Dodgers Giants Game One Preview

The Dodgers return home to open up a huge home series that could decide the West.

The Dodgers made a furious comeback yesterday, only to lose the game in extras. Jose De Leon struggled and they lost, but the team showed a ton of fight and heart. That doesn’t count for much in the standings, but it was a lot more entertaining than if they just folded.

The Giants lost, so they come to LA five games behind the Dodgers in the West. A combination of nine more Dodger wins+Giant losses gives the Dodgers the division for the fourth consecutive year. With only 13 games left, the Dodgers could all but wrap up the division with a series win in the next three days.

Dodgers Starter

Tonight’s game pits two of the game’s premier lefties. Clayton Kershaw gets the ball for the Dodgers for the third time since he missed a couple months with a back issue.

He came back slowly and only tossed three innings in his first outing, but looked a lot like Kershaw in his last start against the Yankees. Despite the game being delayed twice due to weather, Kershaw shoved through four perfect innings. He lost his perfect game in the fifth, but kept his shutout through five solid innings.

Kershaw has dominated the Giants throughout his career. He’s been slightly less dominant against them this year, with a 2.35 ERA in three starts against them. Somehow, that’s much worse than his career 1.62 ERA against the Giants.

Kershaw hasn’t seen the Giants since June 10th, when he allowed two runs in eight innings. He struck out 13, but the Dodgers needed a late run against Santiago Casilla to come away with the win.

Giants Starter

Madison Bumgarner gets the ball for the Giants. MadBum is one of the better lefties in the league and the Dodgers have been awful against lefties this season, but Bumgarner seems to be the exception.

The Dodgers have a .213/.291/.334 slash against lefties this season. However they’re hitting .311/.342/.514 as a team in 79 plate appearances against Bumgarner.

They touched Bumgarner up for five runs in five innings last time they saw him. The Giants have lost all three of his starts against the Dodgers this season, with Bum getting the decision in two of the losses.

Bumgarner is still eating innings, but since August 13th, his ERA has gone from .2.11 to 2.66. He’s allowed three or more runs in five of his six starts since then and hasn’t been his usual dominant self. With Kershaw sidelined, the Cy Young door looked to be open for Bumgarner. His struggles could keep him from his first, and probably best chance at winning the award.

Dodgers Lineup

A lineup against a lefty and my eyes aren’t bleeding?

Enrique Hernandez starts in center in place of Joc Pederson. Kiké had a two-hit game last night, but more importantly he owns Bumgarner. He’s 11 for 19 in the past against MadBum with three homers and four doubles.

To ensure maximum mad Madbum, Yasiel Puig is also in the lineup. Puig is 7 for 29 in the past against him, but his bat flippiness has irritated Bumgarner in the past.

Yasmani Grandal is back in the lineup after missing the last two games with shoulder pain. He took a hard foul ball off his right shoulder on Friday, but is back in there today. Hopefully, his shoulder pains don’t make him a liability at the plate like they did last year.

Alex Wood won’t be activated until tomorrow to delay having to make a roster move. Micah Johnson, who is already on the 40-man, will be activated for today’s game. His speed could be a difference maker late in a game.

Next: How Should the Dodgers Platoon Against the Giants?

First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PST and will be shown on SNLA