Game Preview: Cardinals @ Giants 5/29

The Giants (23-23) and the Cardinals (28-19) meet tonight for the first time this season to begin a three game series at AT&T Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 pm and the game can be seen on the Bay Area's NBC 11.

Matt Cain (5-1 2.40 ERA) takes the hill for the Giants against Cardinals SP Joel Pineiro (5-4 3.52 ERA). The Giants have won four of their last five and are coming off a sweep of the Atlanta Braves.

The Cardinals are 7-3 in their last ten games and are looking forward to getting two of their big bats back tonight. Rick Ankiel and Ryan Ludwick return to the lineup tonight to help a struggling St. Louis offense.

During their last nine games the Cardinals have a team batting average of .228 and are only producing 3.4 runs a game. The pitching on the other hand has been amazing. The Cardinals staff has posted a 0.88 ERA over the last nine games.

The Giants are looking for their season-best fifth straight win at China Basin.

Three Things to Remember for Tonight:

* Matt Cain 0-1 with a 9.58 ERA in two career starts against St. Louis. Last April when he faced the Cardinals, Cain gave up nine runs in an ugly 11-1 loss at Busch Stadium.

* Joel Pineiro is 0-2 with a 8.10 in two career starts against the Giants.

* Bengie Molina is in a bad slump that is not helping is case to be an all star. He is 3 for his last 39 and is hitting .194 in the month of May.