(Best E Casino) - Poor run support has doomed Matt Cain all season long, and that isn't likely to change anytime soon. The San Francisco Giants hurler will take the hill tonight in the opener of a three-game series with the Atlanta Braves at AT&T Park.

Cain went just 7-16 in 32 starts last year despite an earned run average of 3.65. Things haven't been much better in 2008 for the right-hander, as he is 6-9 with a 3.70 ERA. Cain was outstanding last month for the Giants, posting a 1.88 ERA in six July starts, but he posted a record of only 2-3 over that time.

The Giants scored only eight runs in his July starts and gave the 23-year-old zero support in his last start. Cain held the Dodgers to two runs (1 earned) on eight hits over seven innings of a 2-0 setback on Tuesday, while striking out eight.

Cain is 0-1 with a 6.97 ERA in two career starts versus the Braves.

Atlanta counters with Jair Jurrjens, who has alternated wins and losses over his last six starts. The 22-year-old has allowed 12 runs in his last three setbacks, but has given up only one run in his last three wins.

Jurrjens, who is 10-6 with a 3.06 ERA this year, gave up three runs on seven hits over seven innings of a loss to St. Louis on Wednesday. He has never faced the Giants before and is 5-3 with a 2.77 ERA in 10 road starts this year.

Jurrjens has been a pleasant surprise since coming over in the offseason from Detroit in a deal that sent Edgar Renteria to the Tigers. That move allowed the Braves to slide Yunel Escobar into the starting role at shortstop, and he drove in two runs in Sunday's 5-0 victory over Milwaukee. Escobar is hitting .280 this year with six homers, 42 RBI and 51 runs scored.

Jorge Campillo (6-4) earned the victory on Sunday, giving up only six hits while striking out six without issuing a walk over seven innings. Mark Kotsay and Omar Infante had run-scoring doubles and Jeff Francoeur added an RBI for Atlanta, which won for only the second time in its last nine games.

Atlanta's Brian McCann hasn't played since July 27 due to a concussion the catcher sustained in a collision at home plate, though he could return to the starting lineup tonight. He is hitting .302 with 20 homers and 63 RBI this year and is a career .279 hitter versus the Giants.

San Francisco, meanwhile, has lost six of its last nine and fell to San Diego, 4-1, on Sunday. Randy Winn had two of San Francisco's four hits and knocked in the lone run for the Giants. Kevin Correia (2-6) allowed two runs on three hits in 6 1/3 innings to take the loss.

Dave Roberts and Rich Aurilia also had a hit each in the loss.

The Braves and Giants are meeting for the first time this season after Atlanta took four of seven games in the 2007 series. The clubs split four games in San Francisco.