Dodgers at Giants
The Los Angeles Dodgers' offense sputtered out of the blocks in the first series against the San Francisco Giants and is hitting the skids once again heading into Friday's opener of a three-game set at AT&T Park. The Dodgers mustered seven hits en route to dropping back-to-back 1-0 losses to the Giants, with Joe Panik belting a solo homer in both contests for San Francisco.
Panik, who has slugged a career-high 10 homers on two occasions, added his third of the young season in Tuesday's 6-5 setback to Seattle before seeing his five-game hitting streak come to a halt the following day as San Francisco ended a three-game skid with a 10-1 romp over the Mariners. The 27-year-old aims to get back on track versus Friday starter Kenta Maeda, against whom he is 5-for-12 with a homer and two RBIs. Los Angeles' offense is in need of a jolt after being shut out for the third time in seven outings, as Arizona capped a three-game series sweep with a 3-0 triumph on Wednesday. Matt Kemp's bloop double with two outs in the fifth inning accounted for the Dodgers' lone hit, and he's 1-for-5 in his career versus Friday starter Derek Holland.
TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), NBC Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Kenta Maeda (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Giants LH Derek Holland (0-1, 5.40)
Maeda ended the Dodgers' first skid of the season on the strength of his second double-digit strikeout performance of his career. The 29-year-old Japanese star noted the success of his four-seam fastball in fanning 10 batters and scattering five hits over five innings in a 5-0 victory over the Giants on Saturday. Former NL MVP Andrew McCutchen (10 at-bats) and Hunter Pence (13) have each struck out five times against Maeda, who owns a 4-1 record and 4.55 ERA in six career starts versus the Giants.
While Maeda was masterful, Holland endured significant problems as he permitted five runs (three earned) and walked three in five innings to take the loss. The 31-year-old has struggled in his last 11 outings dating back to last season with the Chicago White Sox, posting a 2-6 mark in that stretch. Justin Turner is 1-for-4 in limited appearances versus Holland, who has dropped both of his career encounters to the Dodgers -- albeit separated by nearly nine years.
WALK-OFFS
1. Los Angeles C Yasmani Grandal recorded multi-hit performances in two of the first three meetings with San Francisco, but is 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in his last two games.
2. Giants C Buster Posey is 6-for-14 with two doubles and three runs scored during his four-game hitting streak.
3. The Dodgers claimed RHP Alec Asher from Baltimore on Thursday and promptly optioned the 26-year-old to Triple-A Oklahoma City.