Giants at Dodgers
Dodger fans who have been clamoring for Alex Guerrero to receive regular playing time should get their wish starting Monday, when Los Angeles begins a three-game series against the visiting San Francisco Giants. The Dodgers lost three straight in San Francisco last week before winning two of three in San Diego over the weekend.
Guerrero is hitting .500 with five home runs and 13 RBI in 22 at-bats and will likely start in left field on Monday, according to manager Don Mattingly. The Dodgers have an opening in the outfield after right fielder Yasiel Puig was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday due to a strained left hamstring. The Giants could have a surplus of outfielders when right fielder Hunter Pence (forearm) returns in two weeks, but Justin Maxwell has improved his stock with a .308 batting average, three home runs and nine RBI. “There’s no way you can take Maxwell out of the lineup right now,” manager Bruce Bochy told reporters. “You’ve got to find a place to put him, with the way he’s been swinging.”
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, CSN Bay Area (San Francisco), SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Tim Lincecum (1-1, 2.00 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Brett Anderson (1-1, 5.40)
Lincecum earned his first win last Tuesday after holding the Dodgers to one run over six innings while inducing four double plays. The two-time Cy Young Award winner, who is 10-7 with a 3.31 ERA in 27 career starts (25 games) against Los Angeles, has used a full complement of pitches to help begin the season on a strong note. “He’s got good movement on his fastball, he’s got a good breaking ball, curveball, slider and a changeup,” Bochy told reporters. “He uses all of ‘em and that’s the way he needs to pitch.”
Anderson is seeking his first win against the Giants after going 0-4 with a 6.19 ERA in four previous outings. The 27-year-old faced off against Lincecum last Tuesday and allowed four runs on nine hits in four innings in a 6-2 loss at AT&T Park. Anderson, who was limited to a total of 19 starts over the last three years due to various injuries, has failed to work past the fifth inning in two of his first three outings this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Giants’ series finale in Colorado on Sunday was postponed due to rain.
2. Los Angeles has placed RHP Joel Peralta on the disabled list due to right shoulder soreness.
3. San Francisco CF Angel Pagan is 8-for-15 in his past three games.