San Francisco @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 13, 2013 ) San Francisco 4, LA Dodgers 2

Injuries are quickly becoming a concern for the Los Angeles Dodgers, whose magic number to clinch the National League West stands at four heading into Saturday’s meeting with the visiting San Francisco Giants. Shortstop Hanley Ramirez is expected to miss several games with an irritated nerve in his back, and outfielder Andre Ethier exited Friday’s contest with a sore left ankle. Neither injury is considered serious, and the Dodgers can afford to be extra cautious due to their comfortable division lead.

The Giants are battling to avoid a last-place place finish, and right fielder Hunter Pence is certainly doing his part. The 30-year-old has homered in consecutive games, and he’s five doubles shy of reaching the 40-double mark for the first time in his career. Pence is eligible for free agency at the end of the season, and San Francisco is reportedly interested in signing the six-year veteran to a long-term contract.

TV: 9:10 p.m. ET, NBC Bay Area (San Francisco), Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Tim Lincecum (9-13, 4.40 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Ricky Nolasco (13-9, 3.14)

Lincecum bounced back from a shaky outing against San Diego with eight strong innings against Colorado last Monday. The two-time NL Cy Young winner is 8-6 with a 2.86 ERA in 21 career games (20 starts) against the Dodgers. Adrian Gonzalez is 9-for-47 (.191) with 16 strikeouts against Lincecum, who has gone 1-1 with a 3.48 ERA in two starts against Los Angeles this season.

Nolasco won his career-high seventh consecutive decision last Monday against Arizona, yielding one unearned run over 6 2/3 innings in the Dodgers’ 8-1 victory. “Any time you've got offense like this, it just helps a ton," Nolasco said. Pence is 8-for-29 with four home runs against the 30-year-old, who faced the Giants while pitching for Miami on June 21 and surrendered three runs over 5 2/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. After going 23-6 in August, the Dodgers are off to a 6-6 start this month.

2. Six of the Giants’ last seven games have been decided by one run.

3. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Nick Punto and Dee Gordon will share time at shortstop while Ramirez is out.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 4, Giants 3