Giants at Dodgers
After losing back-to-back starts to diminish his chances of winning a fourth Cy Young Award, Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw attempts to get back on track when he pitches the opener of a three-game series against the visiting San Francisco Giants on Friday night. Kershaw has more wins (23) against San Francisco than any other opponent.
Los Angeles flexed its muscles in a three-game mauling of Colorado, belting 12 homers in the series to set a National League record of 250 for the season. Joc Pederson has five homers, nine RBIs and seven runs scored over his last three games to help the Dodgers lower their magic number for winning the National League West to four. While Los Angeles has won four straight, San Francisco has tumbled out of contention for a wild card after dropping eight of its last 10 games. Kevin Pillar is 5-for-8 over the past two games in St. Louis and 4-for-9 in his career against Kershaw.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco), SportsNet Los Angeles
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Jeff Samardzija (9-11, 3.61 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (13-4, 2.96)
Samardzija remained winless over his last four starts after he took the loss against San Diego on Sunday, when he was pounded for six runs and nine hits over 5 1/3 innings. It was a rare clunker for the 34-year-old, who had permitted two runs or fewer in each of his seven previous turns but had only two wins to show for it. Justin Turner is 6-for-15 against Samardzija, who is 0-1 with a 2.61 ERA versus Los Angeles this season and is winless in five career starts (0-3, 4.21) at Dodger Stadium.
Although Kershaw has not allowed more than six hits in 11 consecutive starts, he is having trouble keeping the ball in the park, surrendering eight home runs over his last three turns. He was taken deep twice in a loss at Arizona last time out and yielded three homers in each of his previous two starts, spoiling a 12-strikeout effort versus the Yankees on Aug. 21. Kershaw owns a 1.68 ERA in 47 appearances versus the Giants and has held Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt to a combined to 10-for-107.
WALK-OFFS
1. Dodgers OF Cody Bellinger has 108 homers in his first three seasons but only one in 24 games at AT&T Park.
2. Crawford is 3-for-25 over his last nine games.
3. Turner is 16-for-46 against Los Angeles this season.