Dodgers at Giants
The defending champion San Francisco Giants are in danger of enduring another odd-year curse. The Giants will try to turn around their early struggles when they host the rival Los Angeles Dodgers in the opener of a three-game series on Tuesday.
San Francisco won the World Series in 2010, 2012 and 2014 but failed to make the postseason in 2011 or 2013. The Giants dropped three of four to the Arizona Diamondbacks over the weekend and have lost nine of their last 10 to match the franchise’s worst 14-game start (4-10) since moving to the Bay Area. "The last thing you want to do is get too far back too early," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy told reporters. "I think we all know that it's time we pick up our game here at home. We have to turn it up a notch." The Dodgers are swinging in the other direction and enter the series in first place in the National League West while riding a seven-game winning streak.
TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, SportsNet Los Angeles, CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Brett Anderson (1-0, 3.27 ERA) vs. Giants RH Tim Lincecum (0-1, 2.25)
Anderson, who has not pitched more than 83 1/3 innings in a season since 2010, is being monitored closely in an effort to keep him healthy and was lifted after five innings and 73 pitches on Wednesday. The Texas native allowed only one earned run in the abbreviated outing and has surrendered a total of 11 hits in as many innings in his two turns. Anderson has yet to beat San Francisco, posting a 0-2 record with a 5.25 ERA in three starts.
Lincecum dominated through seven scoreless innings in his first outing of the season but struggled against Colorado last time out to absorb a loss. The former Cy Young winner was reached for four runs (three earned) and six hits in five innings. Lincecum had little success against Los Angeles last season while allowing a total of 12 runs and 21 hits in 12 1/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Giants have been outscored 49-20 over the last 10 games.
2. Los Angeles 1B Adrian Gonzalez went 0-for-5 on Sunday for his first hitless game of the campaign.
3. San Francisco OF Nori Aoki is 4-for-9 with three extra-base hits in the last two games.