San Francisco @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 14, 2014 ) LA Dodgers 4, San Francisco 2

While the Los Angeles Dodgers took care of business over the weekend, the San Francisco Giants were watching their division title hopes fade with three straight losses. As a result, the host Dodgers begin a three-game series against the Giants on Monday with a 4 1/2-game lead in the National League West and a magic number of four to clinch the division. The Giants have lost six of their last eight to fall into a tie with Pittsburgh for the top wild card spot, but are 4 1/2 ahead of Milwaukee.

San Francisco has scored a total of 14 runs over their last eight games and will likely be without outfielders Michael Morse (oblique) and Angel Pagan (back) for the entire series. Morse will have an MRI on Monday while Pagan will visit a back specialist in Los Angeles after missing the last two games. While the Giants are struggling to generate any offense, the Dodgers have scored at least seven runs in four straight games.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, CSN Bay Area (San Francisco), SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Jake Peavy (7-13, 3.82 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Dan Haren (13-11, 4.14)

Peavy held Arizona to one run over 7 2/3 innings Tuesday and improved to 6-1 with a 1.13 ERA over his last seven starts. The 33-year-old, who has been remarkably consistent since being acquired from Boston on July 26, owns a 14-3 record and 2.28 ERA in 26 career starts against the Dodgers. “He’s got so much intensity in every game he throws,” manager Bruce Bochy told reporters. “He’s been a real shot in the arm for this club.”

Haren was 5-1 with a 1.70 ERA in his previous seven starts before allowing five runs in five frames at Colorado on Tuesday. The Southern California native has won five of his last eight outings after going 0-4 with a 9.47 ERA in July. Hunter Pence has one hit in 16 at-bats against Haren, who is facing San Francisco for the first time this season and owns a 6-6 mark and 3.05 ERA in 17 career games (16 starts) against the Giants.

WALK-OFFS

1. Los Angeles has won five of its last six games against the Giants.

2. Dodgers OF Matt Kemp’s seven home runs this month leads the majors.

3. San Francisco 3B Pablo Sandoval has one hit in his last 17 at-bats while Pence is mired in a 3-for-29 slump.

PREDICTION: Giants 4, Dodgers 2