Giants at Dodgers
Madison Bumgarner and Clayton Kershaw face off for the second time in less than a week and ninth time overall Friday as the San Francisco Giants visit the Los Angeles Dodgers for the start of a three-game series. Bumgarner homered off the Dodgers’ ace for the second time in his career Saturday as the Giants won 3-2 in 10 innings.
The Giants enter the series bruised and battered after losing two of three in Colorado and will be without reliever Sergio Romo for at least the next three weeks because of a right flexor strain. Second baseman Joe Panik and shortstop Brandon Crawford are each battling hip injuries but could be in the starting lineup Friday, while reserve infielder Ehire Adrianza is listed as day-to-day with a left foot injury. The Dodgers followed a series-opening loss to Arizona with two straight wins and continue to experiment with different lineups. Howie Kendrick has played second base, third base and left field over the last three games while catcher Austin Barnes made a rare start at second base in Thursday’s 5-2 comeback win over the Diamondbacks.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, CSN Bay Area (San Francisco), SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (1-0, 3.27 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (1-0, 1.20)
Bumgarner tossed six innings of one-run ball against Los Angeles on Saturday and is 13-7 with a 2.41 ERA in 23 career games (22 starts) against the Dodgers. Enrique Hernandez is 7-for-13 with a home run against the three-time All-Star, who is 4-2 with a 2.45 ERA in his previous eight meetings against Kershaw. Bumgarner has been especially tough at Dodger Stadium, where he went 1-1 with a 1.80 ERA in two starts last season.
Kershaw received a no-decision Saturday against the Giants despite allowing two runs on four hits in eight innings. The three-time Cy Young Award winner is 16-7 with a 1.57 ERA in 31 career starts against the Giants, including six complete games and five shutouts. Kershaw has dominated San Francisco regulars such as Crawford (1-for-21), first baseman Brandon Belt (3-for-40 with 22 strikeouts) and right fielder Hunter Pence, who has five hits in 58 at-bats along with 16 strikeouts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Dodgers 1B Adrian Gonzalez has reached base safely in each of the team’s first 10 games.
2. The Giants were 11-8 against the Dodgers last season and won three of four last week at AT&T Park.
3. The Dodgers placed RHP Chris Hatcher on the paternity list and recalled LHP Adam Liberatore from Triple-A Oklahoma City.