Dodgers at Giants
Clayton Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner look to return to form Wednesday when the Los Angeles Dodgers face the San Francisco Giants in the second of a three-game set. The Giants collected 13 hits and snapped the Dodgers’ seven-game winning streak with Tuesday’s 6-2 victory.
While last season’s National League MVP (Kershaw) and World Series MVP (Bumgarner) bring uncharacteristically high ERAs into Wednesday’s contest, both have enjoyed success in the Giants-Dodgers rivalry. Bumgarner allowed two runs or fewer in four of his five outings against the Dodgers last season, and Kershaw is 8-2 with a 0.83 ERA in 12 career games (11 starts) at AT&T Park. The Giants received a spark Tuesday from Justin Maxwell, who started in place of injured right fielder Hunter Pence and was 2-for-3 with a two-run homer. Pence, who suffered a broken hand in spring training, has begun hitting off a tee but is not expected to return until early next month.
TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), NBC Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (1-1, 4.42 ERA) vs. Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (1-1, 5.29)
Kershaw earned his first win after yielding three runs (one earned) in six innings last Friday against Colorado, but he’s given up three home runs in his last two games. “He doesn’t quite seem like himself yet,” manager Don Mattingly told reporters. “I don’t think he’s hit his groove yet.” The 27-year-old is 14-5 with a 1.43 ERA in 26 career games (25 starts) against San Francisco, including 3-0 with a 1.69 ERA in four outings last season.
Bumgarner has allowed 10 runs on 22 hits in 17 innings, and the Giants have dropped two of his first three starts. The 25-year-old workhorse received a no-decision last Thursday, when Arizona recorded four runs in seven innings in the Giants’ 7-6, 12-inning loss. Yasiel Puig is 6-for-22 with two home runs against Bumgarner, who is 11-5 with a 2.54 ERA in 17 career games (16 starts) against the Dodgers.
WALK-OFFS
1. Los Angeles 2B Howie Kendrick is 7-for-15 during his four-game hitting streak.
2. San Francisco OF Nori Aoki has reached base safely in 14 of his first 15 games.
3. The Dodgers are expected to recall OF Chris Heisey from Triple-A Oklahoma City prior to Wednesday’s game.