Los Angeles @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 13, 2014 ) LA Dodgers 17, San Francisco 0

There’s been a distinct lack of drama in the first two games of this weekend’s key divisional series between the San Francisco Giants and visiting Los Angeles Dodgers, but that could change in Sunday’s rubber match. After San Francisco rolled to a 9-0 win in the series opener, Los Angeles responded with a 17-0 rout on Saturday to move two games ahead of the Giants in the National League West. Runs figure to be at a premium on Sunday when Cy Young Award favorite Clayton Kershaw squares off against the Giants’ Yusmeiro Petit.

Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig hasn't homered since July 31, but appears primed to end a lengthy slump with four hits in eight at-bats over his last two games. Both teams rested most of their starters early in Saturday’s rout, and Giants catcher Buster Posey was replaced by Guillermo Quiroz after just one at-bat. Posey has bounced back from a quiet first half to help ignite the Giants’ offense while batting .471 (40-for-85) with seven home runs and 25 RBIs over his last 21 games.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (18-3, 1.67 ERA) vs. Giants RH Yusmeiro Petit (5-3, 3.62)

Kershaw is making a strong case for the NL MVP award while going 15-1 with a 1.20 ERA and six complete games over his last 18 starts. The four-time All-Star is aiming to become the first Dodgers starting pitcher to finish with an ERA under 2.00 in back-to-back seasons since Sandy Koufax in 1963-64. Kershaw has held Hunter Pence to four hits in 45 at-bats while posting a 12-5 record and 1.40 ERA in 24 career games (23 starts) against San Francisco.

Petit enters Sunday’s contest on a high note after throwing just 84 pitches in last Tuesday’s complete-game victory over Arizona. The 29-year-old, who has not allowed a run in four relief appearances against the Dodgers this season, owns a 2-0 mark and 3.79 ERA in three starts since replacing Tim Lincecum in the rotation. “It doesn't matter who he pitches against, he takes the same mentality into every game,” catcher Andrew Susac told the San Francisco Chronicle.
“He’s got a here-you-go-hit-it mentality.”

WALK-OFFS

1. Dodgers OF Matt Kemp exited Saturday’s game after fouling a pitch off his left foot, but he expects to be in the lineup for the series finale.

2. The Giants are 16-21 in one-run games.

3. Los Angeles LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu will have an MRI on his left shoulder on Monday and is listed as doubtful for his next start.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 4, Giants 1