Los Angeles @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( May 11, 2014 ) San Francisco 7, LA Dodgers 4

The visiting Los Angeles Dodgers hope to have some pop back in their lineup when they open a pivotal three-game series against the National League West-leading San Francisco Giants on Friday. Yasiel Puig (hand) is expected to end a four-start absence since getting hit by a pitch from St. Louis' Joe Kelly on Saturday while Hanley Ramirez (wrist) has an outside chance at cracking the lineup as well. Los Angeles can use the boost as it has dropped four of six since the All-Star break and seven of the 10 meetings with front-running San Francisco.

"It's a big series for us, just because of how the Giants have outplayed us head-to-head," Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis told ESPNLosAngeles.com. "... They tend to raise their game when they play against us." San Francisco, which leads second-place Los Angeles by 1 1/2 games, had won six of seven before seeing its offense go limp in a 2-1 setback to reeling Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon. Ehire Adrianza had an RBI single to extend his hitting streak to four games, but is only 4-for-18 in his career against the Dodgers.

TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, SNLA (Los Angeles), KNTV (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Zack Greinke (11-6, 2.90 ERA) vs. Giants RH Tim Lincecum (9-6, 3.65)

Greinke suffered his second straight loss after allowing four runs and a season-high five walks in 5 2/3 innings en route to a 4-2 setback against the Cardinals on Saturday. The 30-year-old looks to rebound versus the Giants, against whom he has posted a 2-0 mark in four career outings. Greinke was stellar in his last meeting with the NL West rival, permitting two runs and striking out eight over seven innings to lift the Dodgers to a 6-2 win on May 10.

Lincecum secured the first save of his eight-year career by recording the final two outs against the Phillies on Tuesday. In his more traditional role as a stater, the 30-year-old saw his four-game winning streak come to a halt versus Miami despite pitching seven strong innings on Sunday. Lincecum, who owns a solid 9-6 career mark against Los Angeles, is 6-2 at home this season while limiting the opposition to a .195 batting average.

WALK-OFFS

1. Los Angeles 3B Justin Turner, who is 3-for-6 with two doubles in his career versus Lincecum, is 3-for-9 with five runs scored in his last three games.

2. San Francisco OF Gregor Blanco went 5-for-12 with five runs scored in the series against Philadelphia.

3. Dodgers 3B Juan Uribe is 8-for-18 in his last four contests and has hit safely in seven of his last eight outings.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 2, Giants 1