Giants at Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are flexing their muscles more than any other team this month, while the San Francisco Giants can't wait to get back home after what has been a miserable road trip. The Dodgers hope to continue their homer-happy ways on Sunday, when they try to complete a three-game sweep at home against the Giants.
Enrique Hernandez and Matt Kemp each homered for the second consecutive game Saturday as Los Angeles downed San Francisco 3-1, increasing its league-leading home run total for the month to 34 - eight more than any other team. The Dodgers have won five straight - all at home - and have gone 11-2 this month as they are among the hottest teams in the majors since May 17 as they've posted a 21-6 record following a 16-26 start. San Francisco felt good about itself after beginning its 10-game trek by taking two of three at Washington, but the team proceeded to drop three of four in Miami - losing Evan Longoria to a broken left hand during their only victory in that series. The Giants' bats have predictably gone quiet in Los Angeles without the three-time All-Star in the middle of their order, totaling three runs on eight hits.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco), SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Chris Stratton (7-4, 4.56 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Caleb Ferguson (0-0, 9.53)
Stratton watched his personal four-game winning streak come to an end in Miami on Tuesday after surrendering three runs on four hits and three walks while working seven innings. Despite the setback, the Mississippi State alum has done his best work on the road in 2018, posting a 3.86 ERA while holding opponents to a .201 batting average. Stratton went 0-2 with an 8.49 ERA while facing the Dodgers three times in his six starts in April, falling to 1-3 with a 7.94 ERA against them.
Ferguson has struggled in his each of his first two major-league outings, giving up a total of six runs over 5 2/3 innings in a pair of no-decisions. The 21-year-old yielded two runs in four frames Tuesday against Texas but was allowed to stick around the team for the first time and conduct his usual between-starts routine after being forced to scramble to catch a flight after each of his first two turns. Ferguson earned his first promotion earlier this month after going 3-0 with a 1.53 ERA in 10 starts with Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City.
WALK-OFFS
1. Four Dodgers (Joc Pederson, Max Muncy, Kemp and Cody Bellinger) have hit at least four home runs in 12 games this month.
2. The Giants have scored fewer than three runs in each of their last 11 contests at Dodger Stadium.
3. Hernandez is batting .291 at home (.129 on the road) and has smacked eight of his 10 homers this season in Los Angeles.