(Sports Network) - Young right-hander Carlos Villanueva makes his first career start against San Francisco today when the Milwaukee Brewers host the Giants to open a three-game weekend series at Miller Park.

A 24-year-old, Villanueva has made 69 big-league appearances over two seasons, including 12 starts, while going 10-7 with a save and a 3.86 earned run average.

He's faced the Giants four times in relief, going 0-1 with a 13.50 ERA over 3 1/3 innings.

Lefty Jonathan Sanchez goes for San Francisco in his first start of the season and the second start of his career against the Brewers. The 25-year-old former 27th-round draft pick is 4-6 with a 5.48 ERA through 60 major-league appearances over two seasons, including eight starts.

He's faced the Brewers four times overall, including the single start, allowing nine hits and eight runs in 5 1.3 innings while striking out nine and walking four.

On Thursday in Chicago, Alfonso Soriano drove in a pair of runs as the Cubs downed the Brewers, 6-3, to wrap up a three-game series.

Ryan Dempster (1-0) got the win as he gave up two runs -- one earned -- on three hits with a pair of walks and five strikeouts in six innings of work. It was Dempster's first start since 2005.

Rickie Weeks went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored while Prince Fielder drove in a pair of runs for the Brewers. Dave Bush (0-1) gave up six runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings of work.

On Wednesday in Los Angeles, Tim Lincecum came out of the bullpen to work four innings and earn the win, and Randy Winn's sixth-inning sacrifice fly proved to be the difference in the Giants' rain-delayed 2-1 victory over the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.

Both Lincecum (1-0) and Dodgers' scheduled starter Chad Billingsley were scratched at game time because of impending inclement weather, but when the rains held off through the first three innings, both got loose and ultimately made appearances.

Merkin Valdez was the spot-starter for the Giants, and he tossed two shutout innings before Jack Taschner's scoreless third bridged the gap to Lincecum. The 23-year-old righty then came on to hurl four innings of one-run ball, striking out four to offset four walks and four base hits.

San Francisco has won three in a row from the Brewers and won last year's season series, 5-4.