By Jason Beck
SportsLine Staff Writer

Still gigantic

The last time the Giants were the hottest team in baseball, they sneaked into a wild-card playoff last fall. They also happened to have a healthy Barry Bonds.

This year's Giants have won seven of 10 games since their franchise player was injured and the team was dismissed for dead. Instead of faltering, San Francisco goes for its sixth straight win Thursday night in the series finale at Montreal (7:05 p.m. ET).

The Giants haven't missed Barry Bonds so far. (AP)

Not only have the Giants been winning, but they've been performing in the clutch. San Francisco has won its last three games by a run and won five one-run games already this season. None of its seven losses have come by less than three runs.

Robb Nen has rolled into the National League lead with saves in the last three games, raising his total to eight in as many opportunities. Offensively, Marvin Benard has led a balanced attack picking up for Bonds' absence with 12 hits, six runs and four RBI in the last seven days.

Russ Ortiz tries to follow up a 136-pitch complete-game victory in his last outing. He faces Carl Pavano, who tries to halt the Expos' five-game losing streak and a personal four-game skid dating back to the final game of last season.

Morgan, Texas Ranger

The majors could see their first five-game winner tonight. They just won't believe who it is.

Rangers pitcher Mike Morgan entered this season with a 13-28 career record in March and April, probably because he keeps having to get acclimated to his new teams. Now with his modern big-league record 11th squad, he's 4-0 entering tonight's series finale with the Yankees (8:35), for whom he went 7-11 way back in 1982. He's 1-7 lifetime against his former club, but history doesn't seem to be holding with Morgan this year, anyway.

Morgan, who once walked 100 in a minor-league season and 86 with Seattle in 1986, has issued only one free pass in 26 1/3 innings for '99. He has, however, surrendered four home runs. That's bad news after Tino Martinez homered twice last night.

Ramiro Mendoza makes his first start on almost two weeks for the Yanks.

Surprise matchup

Jose Silva may finally catch a lucky break.

Silva, who took a batted ball off his face in spring training, completes his comeback by making his first start of the year tonight at Atlanta (7:30). He'll face Greg Maddux, which was once an automatic loss. He's off to a 3-0 start this year, but Maddux hasn't been playing like himself lately.

Maddux, 4-1 over his last six games, picked up one of the ugliest wins of his career last Saturday. He gave up 10 hits and six runs (two earned) over five innings and committed two errors, but the Braves battled back to beat the Marlins in an 8-7 slugfest. He surrendered four runs over six innings in his previous start at Colorado.

The Pirates, for their part, have done a freefall from their lofty start. Wednesday's 5-4 loss in the bottom of the ninth was their fifth defeat in the last six games and dropped them back below .500. Silva gave up six runs in just over four innings during his only start against the Braves last year.

Dodgers (Valdes, 2-0) at Brewers (Eldred, 0-0), 2:05 -- Los Angeles looks for its first sweep since beating Arizona three straight to start the season.

Devil Rays (Alvarez, 0-1) at White Sox (Sirotka, 1-2), 2:05 -- Wilson Alvarez comes off the disabled list in time to start at his old home.

Tigers (Mlicki, 1-2) at Mariners (Henry, 2-0), 3:35 -- The M's have 12 homers in their six games. Ken Griffey and John Mabry have half of them.

Indians (Burba, 1-0) at Athletics (Oquist, 2-1), 4:05 -- The Indians go for their third series sweep of the year.

Reds (Bere, 1-0) at Phillies (Loewer, 1-1), 7:05 -- Ron Gant needs a breakout game to get within sight of the Mendoza line.

Royals (Suppan, 0-3) at Orioles (Erickson, 0-4), 7:05 -- Scott Erickson tries to get his ERA below nine.

Blue Jays (Halladay, 2-0) at Angels (Hill, 0-1), 10:05 -- Roy Halladay has pitched 20 innings without an earned run.