San Diego @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 17, 2011 ) San Francisco 4, San Diego 3

THE STORY: The San Diego Padres are holding job auditions for next season, which makes them a fairly dangerous team. Just ask the San Francisco Giants, who fell two games behind Arizona in the National League West after Tuesday's loss. The teams conclude their short two-game series Wednesday when the visiting Padres attempt to extend their season-high five-game winning streak. The Giants have lost 17 of their last 24 games.

TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, Channel 4SD, CSNBA

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Tim Stauffer (8-9, 3.43 ERA) at Giants RH Tim Lincecum (11-10, 2.53 ERA)

After giving up eight homers in his previous two starts, Stauffer allowed just one run over seven innings against the Marlins last Thursday. He is 5-3 with a 3.16 ERA in nine career games – seven starts – against the Giants. Lincecum is 6-5 with a 1.49 ERA in his last 12 starts since June 17. He is 7-4 with a 2.16 ERA in 16 career starts against San Diego. Lincecum gave up one run while striking out seven over seven innings against the Braves last Thursday.

ABOUT THE PADRES (60-70): Before Mike Adams was traded to Texas in late July, the Padres’ bullpen was considered among the best in the majors. While nobody has replaced Adams as the primary setup man, Josh Spence and Erik Hamren are among several relievers making a strong bid for next year’s roster. Hamren, who earned his first major league win on Tuesday, hasn’t allowed a hit in his last five appearances covering 5 2/3 innings. He has seven strikeouts against one walk. Hamren started the season in Single-A, but manager Bud Black showed his trust in the rookie by giving him the ball with the score tied in the eighth inning Tuesday. The Padres will play a major role in determining the National League West champion. On Monday, the team began a stretch of 30 straight games against divisional opponents. San Diego improved to 18-25 within the division with Tuesday’s win.

ABOUT THE GIANTS (68-61): It’s too soon to call the Carlos Beltran trade a bust, but surely the Giants expected more from the veteran outfielder. Beltran popped out as a pinch hitter with the tying run at second in the eighth inning Tuesday, and he’s batting just .242 with no home runs in 46 at-bats since joining the Giants. Beltran is expected to start Wednesday for the first time since being placed on the disabled list with a strained right hand on Aug. 8. Outfielder Nate Schierholtz has a fractured right foot, but he’s hoping to avoid the disabled list. He said there’s no risk of further injury if he plays, so he plans to rest the foot for a few days before playing through the pain. Left fielder Pat Burrell (foot) will begin a minor league rehab assignment Wednesday with High-A San Jose, and he could rejoin the Giants next week.

FINAL PITCH: The Padres have scored a run in the first inning in six straight games, and seven times in their last eight games.