San Francisco @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 24, 2013 ) San Francisco 1, LA Dodgers 3

The San Francisco Giants have lost 23 of their last 38 games heading into Tuesday’s contest against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and their lack of power is becoming a major concern. San Francisco has hit one home run in its last 10 games, and has been outhomered 17-3 over that stretch. Right fielder Hunter Pence leads the team with 12 homers, but 10 of them have been solo shots.

While the Giants try to manufacture runs, the Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig continues to amaze. The 22-year-old right fielder went 3-for-4 with a homer and a tiebreaking RBI single in Monday’s 3-1 victory in the series opener, giving him 12 multi-hit games and lifting his batting average to .442. The Dodgers were hoping to activate center fielder Matt Kemp (hamstring) from the disabled list Tuesday, but they may extend his rehab assignment after he struggled in three games with Triple-A Albuquerque.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, KCAL (Los Angeles), Comcast SportsNet-Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Stephen Fife (1-2, 3.25 ERA) vs. Giants LH Mike Kickham (0-1, 15.43)

Fife only has one win to show for his first five starts this season, but he’s pitched well overall while holding opponents to two or fewer earned runs in each of his last four outings. He gave up two runs (one earned) in a no-decision last Thursday against the Padres. Fife has faced the Giants just once in his career, allowing one run in 6 1/3 innings on July 27, 2012.

Kickham is starting in place of Chad Gaudin, who was placed on the disabled list Monday with a sore elbow. The 24-year-old left-hander struggled in his major league debut May 28, when he gave up four runs with four walks over 2 1/3 innings against the Athletics. The rough outing earned him a return trip to Triple-A Fresno, where he’s gone 3-5 with a 4.81 ERA in 14 starts this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Giants CF Angel Pagan will have surgery Tuesday on his left hamstring and could miss up to 12 weeks.

2. The Dodgers have won three straight for the first time since April 5-7.

3. San Francisco INF Joaquin Arias exited Monday’s game with a left hamstring strain and is listed as day-to-day.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 7, Giants 4