Chicago @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 21, 2019 ) San Francisco 5, Chi. Cubs 5

The San Francisco Giants seem to have something special brewing and baseball's hottest team will try to keep their surge alive when they host the Chicago Cubs on Monday in the opener of a three-game series. Mike Yastrzemski's walk-off home run in the 12th inning lifted the Giants to a 3-2 win over the New York Mets on Sunday.

It was their 15th win in their last 18 games, their fifth consecutive victory in an extra-inning game, improved them to 22-10 in one-run games and it pushed the club back to .500 (50-50). San Francisco has yet to have a winning record in 2019 but will attempt to get there Monday behind rookie Shaun Anderson, who starts opposite Alec Mills for the Cubs. Chicago was 7-1 out of the All-Star break before dropping a 5-1 decision to the San Diego Padres at home Sunday. Anthony Rizzo had two of the Cubs' six hits and their lone RBI as they saw their lead in the National League Central cut to two games.

TV: 9:45 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Alec Mills (0-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. Giants RH Shaun Anderson (3-2, 4.87)

Mills was summoned from the minors last week and notched a quality start in a no-decision against Cincinnati. The 27-year-old held the Reds to three runs and five hits over six innings while striking out six and walking one. He will be making his first career road start and facing the Giants for the first time.

Anderson has an 8.78 ERA in three starts during July but his team has won each of those games. He allowed a season-high five earned runs over 4 1/3 innings at Colorado on Wednesday while striking out one and walking two. The University of Florida product, who has never faced the Cubs, is 2-1 with a 4.05 ERA at home while allowing one home run in 26 2/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Giants LHP Derek Holland and INF Ryder Jones were both designated for assignment and LHP Ty Blach was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento while LHP Conner Menez and 3B Zach Green were brought up from the River Cats.

2. Rizzo is 21-for-43 during a 12-game hitting streak.

3. San Francisco has taken two out of three in each of the last five series against Chicago at home.

PREDICTION: Giants 5, Cubs 4