Giants at Dodgers
The San Francisco Giants attempt to make up ground on the host Los Angeles Dodgers when the National League West rivals open up a three-game series. Los Angeles has a four-game lead over San Francisco entering the first matchup between the clubs. The Dodgers are 10-2 at home as they begin a stretch of eight straight hosting division foes.
San Francisco lost four straight before winning the final two contests of a three-game home series against the Brewers. Hector Sanchez delivered the winning hit in Sunday’s 11-inning triumph. The Dodgers are hoping center fielder Matt Kemp will be back in the starting lineup after tweaking a hamstring on Saturday. Kemp appeared as a pinch hitter in Sunday’s 11-inning loss to the Chicago Cubs to stretch his consecutive games played streak to 392.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area (San Francisco), KCAL (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Barry Zito (1-0, 1.76 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Ted Lilly (3-0, 1.38 ERA)
Zito won his first start and has followed with four consecutive no-decisions. He battled wildness in his last outing against Milwaukee, when he walked seven batters in just 3 2/3 innings. Zito is 6-8 with a 3.97 ERA in 21 appearances (20 starts) against Los Angeles.
Lilly has allowed just 13 hits in 26 innings and opposing batters are hitting .151 against him. He has given up four or fewer hits in all four starts. Lilly beat the Rockies in his last outing when he gave up two runs and four hits in six innings. He is 3-4 with a 5.81 ERA in nine career starts against San Francisco.
WALK-OFFS:
1. Kemp is batting .426 with two homers in 47 career at-bats against Zito.
2. Giants outfielder Angel Pagan, who is 5-for-10 against Lilly, seeks to extend his hitting streak to 21 games.
3. Los Angeles infielders Jerry Hairston Jr. (hamstring) and Juan Uribe (wrist) are ailing and Hairston could be headed to the disabled list.