Pittsburgh @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 5, 2013 ) Pittsburgh 0, LA Dodgers 3

The Los Angeles Dodgers will try to keep the Pittsburgh Pirates' bats silent when the teams meet Saturday in the middle game of the three-game series in Los Angeles. Dodgers' pitchers have combined for two shutouts, while the Pirates have scraped together six runs in their first four games. Winning at Dodger Stadium hasn’t been easy for Pittsburgh anyway. The Pirates have lost seven straight at Chavez Ravine and 29 of their last 36, and haven't won a series against the Dodgers since 2000.

Dodgers slugger Matt Kemp ended an 0-for-22 streak dating to last season with an RBI double in the seventh inning of Friday’s 3-0 victory. Adrian Gonzalez also collected his first extra-base hit with a double that followed Kemp’s. Add in Andre Ethier’s first home run and the Dodgers have to feel good about the heart of their order getting untracked. The only player hitting better than .222 for the Pirates is outfielder Andrew McCutchen, who is 4-for-13 but has also struck out five times.

TV: 9:10 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), ROOT Sports (Pittsburgh)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH A.J. Burnett (0-1, 4.76) vs. Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (1-0, 0.00)

Burnett is coming off one of his most successful seasons in his 15-year career, posting a 16-10 record with the Pirates and finishing with a 3.51 ERA in 202 1/3 innings. He went 1-6 in his last eight starts, however, and was the losing pitcher in the season opener against the Cubs, allowing three earned runs in 5 2/3 innings of the 3-1 loss. “When I came over here, I became a leader. They didn’t really give me a choice,” Burnett told Pirates.com. “I love it. It brings more out of me. When I take the mound, these guys all watch me, and that makes me tick.”

Kershaw was masterful in his season-opening start, allowing four hits, striking out seven and walking none in a 4-0 victory against the Giants. He even launched his first career homer over the center field fence in the eighth inning to produce the game’s first run, becoming the first player to hit a homer and pitch a shutout on Opening Day since 1965. Kershaw beat the Pirates in Pittsburgh last August, allowing three runs on six hits in eight innings of a 9-3 victory. One player who has been a tough out for Kershaw is McCutchen, who is 5-for-14 against him, including a home run in the August game.

WALK-OFFS

1. Kemp has faced Burnett four times, but hasn’t hit a fair ball, drawing two walks and striking out twice.

2. Pirates 3B Pedro Alvarez has struck out all four times he has faced Kershaw, who leads the majors with a 2.79 ERA since 2008.

3. The Dodgers have the four-oldest active roster at 30.1 years, and second in the National League to the Phillies (30.2).

PREDICTION: Dodgers 5, Pirates 0