San Francisco @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 21, 2011 ) San Francisco 8, LA Dodgers 5

THE STORY: The good news for the San Francisco Giants is they can’t be eliminated from the National League West race any earlier than Friday. The bad news is they’re running out of time. Heading into Thursday’s series finale against the host Los Angeles Dodgers, the Giants are 3 1/2 games back in the wild-card race and 5 1/2 behind the Diamondbacks in the division with seven games remaining. San Francisco visits Arizona for a three-game series this weekend.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, CSNBA, Prime Ticket

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (12-12, 3.21 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Hiroki Kuroda (12-16, 3.19 ERA).

Bumgarner, who gave up one unearned run over seven innings against the Colorado Rockies last Friday, has won five straight starts while posting a 1.10 ERA over his last 32 2/3 innings. The Giants are 7-0 in his last seven starts against teams from the National League West. Kuroda allowed two runs – one earned – and struck out seven over six innings against the Pirates last Friday. He is 3-3 with a 3.79 ERA in nine career starts against the Giants. The Dodgers are 2-8 in Kuroda’s last 10 starts against a team with a winning record.

ABOUT THE GIANTS (84-71): Right fielder Carlos Beltran left Wednesday's game in the fifth inning with a bruised right foot, but he should be fine for Thursday’s series finale. Beltran, who was hit in the foot with a pitch from Dana Eveland in the third inning, is batting .472 (17-for-36) with three doubles, three home runs and six RBIs during a nine-game hitting streak. Jonathan Sanchez’s season is likely over after he was unable to throw off a mound earlier this week. Sanchez hasn’t pitched since spraining his ankle Aug. 16, and it’s possible he won’t return to the Giants next year. The emergence of Ryan Vogelsong and Eric Surkamp might prompt the team to trade Sanchez during the offseason. Chris Stewart batted .346 (9-for-26) in nine games before Wednesday and appears likely to serve as Buster Posey’s backup next season.

ABOUT THE DODGERS (77-77): Outfielder Juan Rivera was hitless in four at-bats Wednesday, but he’s been a pleasant surprise since arriving from Toronto during the All-Star break. Entering Wednesday, Rivera was hitting .297 with 41 RBIs since the trade, and the Dodgers like that he can play both corner outfield spots and first base. He’ll be a free agent at the end of the season, but there’s a chance he could return if the Dodgers aren’t able to acquire a slugging outfielder during the winter. Fans are still buzzing about the work done by reliever Kenley Jansen in Tuesday's game. Jansen entered with two men on base and one out in the eighth inning and promptly struck out Pablo Sandoval and Carlos Beltran to end the Giants’ threat. Jansen has struck out 25 of his past 40 batters, and he’s been one of the game’s best setup men since coming off the disabled list in June.

FINAL PITCH: Giants closer Brian Wilson recorded his 36th save and first since Aug. 13 in Wednesday’s game.