Chicago @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 29, 2011 ) Chi. Cubs 7, San Francisco 0

THE STORY: Coming off what manager Bruce Bochy called “the low point of the season,” the San Francisco Giants look to rebound Tuesday when they continue their three-game series against the visiting Chicago Cubs. The Giants dropped five games behind Arizona in the National League West on Monday when the Cubs snapped a five-game losing streak behind Randy Wells’ first career complete game.

TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, WGN, CSNBA

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Matt Garza (6-10, 3.68 ERA) at Giants RH Ryan Vogelsong (10-4, 2.54 ERA)

Garza gave up six runs – three earned – over five innings against Atlanta last Thursday. He is making his first career appearance against the Giants. Garza is 2-2 with a 2.40 ERA in his last five starts, but he’s just 2-5 on the road this season.

Vogelsong, who has tossed at least seven innings in his last three starts, threw a season-high 117 pitches while giving up three runs over 7 1/3 innings last Thursday against Houston. The Giants are 5-1 in Vogelsong’s last six starts following a team loss in their previous game.

ABOUT THE CUBS (58-77): Wells isn’t guaranteed a spot in next year’s rotation, but Monday’s effort certainly helped his chances. Wells, who held the Giants to just two hits, improved to 4-0 in his last six starts. He’ll likely be competing with Andrew Cashner and Casey Coleman for a spot in the rotation next spring. Cashner made his third rehab appearance at Double-A Tennessee on Monday and struck out all three hitters he faced. Cashner, who has been on the disabled list since April 6 with a strained right rotator cuff, could rejoin the Cubs this Friday. It will be interesting to see if outfielder Brett Jackson is promoted next week when rosters expand. The Cubs’ top pick in the 2009 draft, Jackson is batting .319 with nine homers in 42 games at Triple-A Iowa, but the team may not want to start his service-time clock this year. Catcher Welington Castillo and first baseman Bryan LaHair are among those likely to be promoted.

ABOUT THE GIANTS (71-64): While Arizona is gaining confidence with every win, the Giants’ frustration is growing. Bochy was nearly speechless after Monday’s game, when the Giants were shut out for the 13th time and failed to win a series opener for the 12th straight time. The Giants are averaging a major league-low 2.6 runs per game since Aug. 4, and Carlos Beltran needs to start producing soon to justify last month’s deal that sent top prospect Zach Wheeler to New York. Beltran went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts Monday, and he has just one home run in 18 games since joining the Giants. One day after Bochy suggested that starting pitcher Jonathan Sanchez (ankle) could be done for the season, Sanchez said he’s optimistic that he’ll be able to rejoin the Giants for the final few weeks.

FINAL PITCH: Cubs catcher Geovany Soto led off the seventh inning Monday with his 14th home run to end a 0-for-25 hitless streak.