Wednesday – 10:10 p.m. (ET):  Matt Cain (3-2, 3.22 ERA) vs Clayton Kershaw (5-3, 2.75 ERA) 

The two-game set opens with Giants right-hander Matt Cain slated to square off against Dodgers southpaw Clayton Kershaw. 

The San Francisco Giants are 4-0 in Cain’s last four starts against the Los Angeles Dodgers, with the latest triumphing on April 2 in a 10-0 win for the Giants as 109 road favorites.  Los Angeles is 3-2 in Kershaw’s last five outings against San Francisco, including a 6-1 win by the Dodgers last month as 101 road ‘chalk.’ 

Cain picked up his first win in five starts with Thursday’s 3-2 victory for San Francisco as a 123 home favorite against the Arizona Diamondbacks.  The 26-year-old allowed both of Arizona’s runs, giving up seven hits in 7 2/3 innings (112 pitches). 

Kershaw surrendered no runs against Arizona in Friday’s 4-3 triumph for Los Angeles as a 183 home favorite.  The four-year hurler earned his third straight win, notching a season-high 11 strikeouts in seven frames (106 pitches). 

Sportsbooks opened Kershaw as a 135 favorite for Wednesday’s matchup, with the ‘total’ sitting at 6 ½ ‘under’ (minus 120) on the MLB odds boards.

 

Thursday – 10:10 p.m. (ET): Madison Bumgarner (0-6, 4.25 ERA) vs Chad Billingsley (2-3, 3.36 ERA) 

Thursday’s finale has Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner listed to oppose Dodgers righty Chad Billingsley. 

San Francisco is 1-1 in Bumgarner’s last two outings against the Dodgers, with the defeating on the losing end of Kershaw’s victory last month.  Los Angeles is 3-3 in Billngsley’s most recent six starts against the Giants, splitting a pair of outings last month in two one-run affairs. 

Bumgarner is still in search of a win after Friday’s 11-4 defeat for San Francisco as a 102 road dog against the Chicago Cubs.  The 21-year-old went six innings (92 pitches), allowing three runs on five hits. 

Billingsley logged a second straight loss in Thursday’s 1-0 setback for Los Angeles as a 136 home favorite against the Arizona Diamondbacks.  The six-year veteran did his part, giving up one hit in eight frames (119 pitches). 

Dodgers struggling at the plate 

Los Angeles has three members of its lineup among the National League’s top 15 hitters, but the numbers are deceiving with some of them struggling as of late. 

Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier saw his BA fall from .362 to .333 thanks to a 0-for-13 slump in his last four games, while mate Matt Kemp (.321 BA) has not fared much better, going 1-for-14 in the same span.  Shortstop Jamey Carroll (.311 BA) had a 6-for-15 run end with Tuesday’s 0-for-3 day against the Milwaukee Brewers. 

Giants have the edge in relief 

San Francisco’s Brian Wilson presently ranks third in the National League with 12 saves, while not allowing a run in his last 10 closing efforts.  The two-time All-Star gave up no hits in two appearances last month against the Dodgers, notching four strikeouts.

This mini-series will give one of these teams the chance to close in on the Colorado Rockies for the top spot in the National League West.

 

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