The Braves' season took a major turn last Monday, when Chipper Jones, who leads the majors with a .369 average, and No. 1 starter Tim Hudson were placed on the disabled list. A day later, Atlanta (51-60) traded first baseman Mark Teixeira, who led the team with 78 RBIs, to the Los Angeles Angels.

The Braves defeated Milwaukee 5-0 on Sunday to avoid being swept in three games, but Atlanta has won only two of its last nine. The Braves are 10 games back of NL East-leading Philadelphia.

"Everything's not going our way right now," Jair Jurrjens (10-6, 3.06 ERA) told the team's official Web site. "I ask myself on the bench every day what's wrong with our team. And I have no answer.

"We all need to watch 'Happy Gilmore' or something. We need to find our 'happy place.'"

Jurrjens takes the ball in Monday's series opener in his first career start against the Giants.

Jurrjens allowed three runs and seven hits in seven innings of a 7-2 loss to St. Louis on Wednesday. The rookie right-hander has lost three of his last five starts after going eight straight starts without a defeat.

While Jurrjens has struggled to find success lately, he has still been outstanding on the road, posting a 0.30 ERA in winning his last four away from Turner Field.

Although Jurrjens is pitching well away from Atlanta, the rest of the team has struggled, as the Braves are tied with San Diego for the third-worst road record in the majors at 18-35.

The Giants (46-64), meanwhile, have baseball's worst home record at 20-34.

In addition to its troubles at AT&T Park, San Francisco has scored the third-fewest runs in the majors (425), and plated only six runners in its last five games.

The Giants lost to the Padres 4-1 on Sunday, its 15th defeat in the last 22 games. San Francisco was just four games out of first on July 5, but is now 10 1/2 games behind NL West-leading Arizona.

Matt Cain (6-9, 3.70) takes the hill Monday hoping San Francisco can back him with some run support.

Despite a 2.44 ERA in seven starts since June 26, Cain is just 2-4, as he's received a major league-low eight runs of support in those games.

On Tuesday, the right-hander gave up two runs, eight hits and walked none with eight strikeouts in seven innings of a 2-0 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"We have to figure out a way to get Matt a run or two," Giants manager Bruce Bochy told the team's official Web site.

This will be Cain's first start against the Braves since July 23, 2007, when he gave up four runs and six hits in 4 1-3 innings of a 4-2 loss. He is 0-1 with a 6.97 ERA in two career starts versus Atlanta.

The Giants lost four of seven to the Braves last season, with the teams splitting their four games in San Francisco.