Dodgers at Giants
San Francisco first baseman Brandon Belt has found his power stroke just in time for the struggling Giants, who have climbed out of the National League West cellar with five straight wins. Belt looks to maintain his hot streak Wednesday as the Giants aim for a three-game sweep of the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers, who have lost three in a row and four of their last six.
Belt collected two hits in Tuesday’s 2-1 victory and could be on the verge of breaking out of his season-long slump with four homers in his last six games. Catcher Buster Posey has also provided some much-needed power with five homers in his last eight games to lead the Giants, whose last 12 home runs have all been solo shots. The Dodgers fell to 6-20 against the Giants at AT&T Park since the start of the 2015 season as their struggles against left-handed starters continued against San Francisco’s Ty Blach. Right fielder Yasiel Puig went 0-for-3 and has three hits in his last 19 at-bats for the Dodgers, who begin a 10-game homestand on Thursday.
TV: 3:45 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), NBC Sports Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (6-2, 2.43 ERA) vs. Giants RH Johnny Cueto (4-2, 4.15)
Kershaw won his second straight start last Friday at Colorado, allowing two runs over seven innings while throwing 85 pitches. The three-time Cy Young winner has struck out 57 batters against eight walks in eight outings covering 55 2/3 innings. Belt is 3-for-51 with 27 strikeouts against Kershaw, who is 19-9 with a 1.66 ERA in 38 career games (37 starts) against San Francisco, including 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts this season.
Cueto received a no-decision last Friday against Cincinnati despite holding his former team to two runs over eight innings on a season-high 119 pitches. The 31-year-old owns a 3.00 ERA in three starts at home compared to a 4.94 ERA in five road outings. Cueto is 6-6 with a 2.94 ERA in 15 career starts against the Dodgers, including 3-1 with a 2.27 ERA in his last six outings, and he’s limited Puig to one hit in 12 at-bats.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Giants are 11-9 at home compared to 6-15 on the road.
2. The Dodgers optioned LHP Grant Dayton to Triple-A Oklahoma City to make room for LHP Rich Hill, who started Tuesday’s game.
3. San Francisco closer RHP Mark Melancon (elbow) is expected to be activated from the disabled list on Friday.