Dodgers Vs. Giants Preview: Division Rivals Meet Again
After winning three out of four games on the road against the Chicago Cubs, the Los Angeles Dodgers now begin a three-game series at home against the San Francisco Giants.
The Dodgers send Dan Haren to the mound, who is starting on an extra day of rest. This season, Haren is 13-11 with a 4.14 ERA. This will be the first time the right-hander has faced the Giants this season, though Haren is 6-6 with a 3.05 ERA over 17 career appearances against San Francisco.
The Giants counter by sending Jake Peavy to the hill. The 13-year veteran is 7-13 with a 3.82 ERA this year. In his only start against the Dodgers this season, Peavy went six innings and gave up four runs in a 4-3 loss on July 27. However, Peavy is undefeated at 6-0 in his last nine starts at Dodger Stadium.
Led by Matt Kemp and Adrian Gonzalez, the Dodgers offense has been a force to be reckoned with over the last week. Both players could have a big night Monday as Kemp is hitting .300 with one home run in his career off Peavy and Gonzalez has a .286 lifetime average with two home runs and three RBIs off the right-hander.
The Dodgers enters tonight’s game with 4.5-game lead over the Giants in the National League West standings; their magic number to clinch the division sits at just three games.
While the Dodgers are attempting to repeat as NL West champions, they’re also chasing the Washington Nationals for the best record in the NL and attempting to fight off St. Louis for home-field advantage in a potential NLDS matchup.
Monday also marks the start of KDOC broadcasting games the final games remaining on the Dodgers’ regular-season schedule.
Dodgers Lineup
2B: Gordon
CF: Puig
1B: Gonzalez
RF: Kemp
SS: Ramirez
LF: Crawford
3B: Uribe
C: Ellis
P: Haren
Giants Lineup
CF: Blanco
2B: Panik
C: Posey
3B: Sandoval
RF: Pence
1B: Belt
LF: Dominguez
SS: Crawford
P: Peavy