Giants-Padres Preview

SAN DIEGO -- Johnny Cueto returns to Petco Park for the second time in six days on Sunday. The San Francisco Giants are hoping he sticks around longer this time.

The Giants and San Diego Padres wrap up their three-game series with Cueto, the National League starter in Tuesday's All-Star Game, going for San Francisco. After losing nine straight to the Giants, the Padres have won the past two and go for their first three-game sweep of the season on Sunday.

Cueto (13-1, 2.47 ERA) secured but five outs against the American League as the junior circuit prevailed 4-2 and Cueto took the loss.

Cueto, a right-hander, wasn't feeling good on Tuesday, when surrendering home runs to former teammates Eric Hosmer and Salvador Perez.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy chuckled when asked if the Padres would be tempted to load the lineup with former Royals on Sunday.

But Bochy conceded that Cueto isn't 100 percent.

"He is still under the weather," Bochy said. "That virus got him pretty good. That's a tough deal when you wake up and you don't feel good the day you are starting an All-Star Game."

But little else has slowed Cueto in his first year into a six-year, free-agent deal signed in the offseason. With Madison Bumganer and Cueto leading the Giants' staff, it's easy to see why San Francisco has the most wins in baseball.

The Padres are at the other end of the baseball world. And the pitcher they send to the mound is on the opposite of Cueto as well.

Veteran Edwin Jackson will be summoned from Triple-A El Paso to make his first start since he was with the Chicago Cubs in 2014.

The 14-year veteran will make his debut with his 11th major league team after pitching for the Miami Marlins and San Diego minor-league teams this year.

"He can kind of stabilize us right now," manager Andy Green said. "He can give a lot of experience to what is a young staff right now."

Drew Pomeranz was the second starter peddled by general manager A.J. Preller, following right-hander James Shields out the door. Pomeranz being moved opened the door for Jackson to prove he can still retire major league hitters.

"Edwin is stretched out and ready," Green said. "He has the opportunity to stay in the rotation. Obviously, it is predicated on how you throw the baseball.:

It wasn't coming out of Jackson's hand to well in El Paso. In three starts, he allowed 10 runs in 12 2/3 innings.

"If he comes and throws the ball well, we are not interested in rushing him out or flipping him somewhere else," Green said. "We have every hope that he is a stabilizing force in the rotation."

Bochy pushed back Cueto in the rotation after he threw 32 pitches in the Midsummer Classic.

Now he's anxious to see Cueto pitch after saying "it was pretty cool" to see him go for the National League on Tuesday.

"Starting an All-Star Game," Bochy said, "now that is quite a feat."