San Francisco @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 12, 2013 ) San Francisco 2, LA Dodgers 3

If the San Francisco Giants weren’t having a season to forget, all eyes would be on Friday’s pitching matchup between Madison Bumgarner and the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw. Even with the Giants residing in the National League West cellar, the second contest of the four-game series offers plenty of intrigue. The Dodgers' magic number to clinch the division stands at five with 16 games to play, and they’d love to clinch at Chavez Ravine this weekend.

Los Angeles has won six of its last seven meetings with San Francisco, which had its streak of four consecutive winning seasons end with a 10-inning, 3-2 loss in Thursday's series opener. Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez left the game for precautionary reasons in the seventh inning with mild left hamstring tightness, and he’ll likely be unavailable Friday. “I think he’s OK,” manager Don Mattingly said. “It's just one of those things where I was feeling like we couldn't take the risk right there with him.”

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, CSN Bay Area (San Francisco), Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (11-9, 2.82 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (14-8, 1.92)

Bumgarner remained winless in his last seven starts despite tossing six scoreless innings against the Diamondbacks on Sunday. Manager Bruce Bochy, who pulled Bumgarner after 89 pitches, said the team is monitoring his workload this month. Andre Ethier is 3-for-22 against the 24-year-old, who is 2-1 with a 1.64 ERA in three starts against the Dodgers this season.

Kershaw settled for a no-decision at Cincinnati on Sunday, when he yielded two runs while striking out seven over seven innings. Kershaw has allowed two earned runs or fewer in nine of his last 10 starts. Hunter Pence has been held to two hits in 35 at-bats against Kershaw, who is 11-4 with a 1.32 ERA in 21 career games (20 starts) against the Giants.

WALK-OFFS

1. Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen blew his first save opportunity since June 29 on Friday after converting 18 straight chances.

2. Bumgarner has allowed three earned runs or fewer in each of his last 17 starts.

3. Los Angeles OF Matt Kemp (hamstring) will be evaluated by the team’s medical staff next week and could be cleared to return before the end of the regular season.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 3, Giants 2