Preview: Dodgers at Giants
GAME: Los Angeles Dodgers (33-29) at San Francisco Giants (36-26)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, June 11 - 7:15 PM EST
WHERE: AT&T Park, San Francisco, California
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy understands the questions, but he’s sticking with beleaguered closer Santiago Casilla. Bochy said Casilla’s role will remain unchanged for Saturday’s game against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers, even after the 12-year veteran allowed a go-ahead home run to Justin Turner in the ninth inning of Friday’s 3-2 loss.
Turner’s blast helped the Dodgers move within three games of the first-place Giants, who have lost four of their last five. San Francisco dropped Friday's contest despite the return of catcher Buster Posey, who doubled in a run off Clayton Kershaw after missing three games due to nerve irritation in his left thumb. The Dodgers have won 12 of their last 18 games and discovered a new starting left fielder in rookie Trayce Thompson, who is batting .270 with 10 homers and 22 RBIs and will continue to see playing time even after Yasiel Puig (hamstring) returns in the next 7-10 days. “We’ll keep running Trayce out there,” manager Dave Roberts told MLB.com. “He’s played himself into a situation where he needs to be in every day.”
TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, FOX
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Scott Kazmir (5-3, 4.46 ERA) vs. Giants RH Jeff Samardzija (7-4, 3.33)
Kazmir exited last Sunday’s start against Atlanta in the sixth inning with a thigh cramp but not before winning his third straight decision. The 32-year-old has gone 2-0 with a 2.12 ERA with 24 strikeouts and four walks over his last three starts covering 17 innings. Brandon Belt is 5-for-10 with three home runs against Kazmir, who owns a 1-2 mark and 5.23 ERA in four career starts against San Francisco, including two rough outings in early April.
Samardzija is looking to get untracked after allowing 11 runs (10 earned) and 15 hits in 10 innings over his last two outings. The 31-year-old, who allowed a career-high 29 home runs last season with the White Sox, gave up four homers and failed to protect an early lead in last Saturday’s 7-4 loss at St. Louis. Chase Utley is 7-for-18 with one home run against Samardzija, who is 1-3 with a 4.79 ERA in five career games (three starts) against the Dodgers.
WALK-OFFS
1. San Francisco starting pitchers have gone 13-4 with a 2.13 ERA since May 11.
2. With 159 career saves, Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen is two shy of Eric Gagne’s team record.
3. The Giants placed INF Kelby Tomlinson on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left thumb and recalled INF Ramiro Pena from Triple-A Sacramento.
PREDICTION: Giants 6, Dodgers 5
GAME: Los Angeles Dodgers (33-29) at San Francisco Giants (36-26)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, June 11 - 7:15 PM EST
WHERE: AT&T Park, San Francisco, California
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy understands the questions, but he’s sticking with beleaguered closer Santiago Casilla. Bochy said Casilla’s role will remain unchanged for Saturday’s game against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers, even after the 12-year veteran allowed a go-ahead home run to Justin Turner in the ninth inning of Friday’s 3-2 loss.
Turner’s blast helped the Dodgers move within three games of the first-place Giants, who have lost four of their last five. San Francisco dropped Friday's contest despite the return of catcher Buster Posey, who doubled in a run off Clayton Kershaw after missing three games due to nerve irritation in his left thumb. The Dodgers have won 12 of their last 18 games and discovered a new starting left fielder in rookie Trayce Thompson, who is batting .270 with 10 homers and 22 RBIs and will continue to see playing time even after Yasiel Puig (hamstring) returns in the next 7-10 days. “We’ll keep running Trayce out there,” manager Dave Roberts told MLB.com. “He’s played himself into a situation where he needs to be in every day.”
TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, FOX
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Scott Kazmir (5-3, 4.46 ERA) vs. Giants RH Jeff Samardzija (7-4, 3.33)
Kazmir exited last Sunday’s start against Atlanta in the sixth inning with a thigh cramp but not before winning his third straight decision. The 32-year-old has gone 2-0 with a 2.12 ERA with 24 strikeouts and four walks over his last three starts covering 17 innings. Brandon Belt is 5-for-10 with three home runs against Kazmir, who owns a 1-2 mark and 5.23 ERA in four career starts against San Francisco, including two rough outings in early April.
Samardzija is looking to get untracked after allowing 11 runs (10 earned) and 15 hits in 10 innings over his last two outings. The 31-year-old, who allowed a career-high 29 home runs last season with the White Sox, gave up four homers and failed to protect an early lead in last Saturday’s 7-4 loss at St. Louis. Chase Utley is 7-for-18 with one home run against Samardzija, who is 1-3 with a 4.79 ERA in five career games (three starts) against the Dodgers.
WALK-OFFS
1. San Francisco starting pitchers have gone 13-4 with a 2.13 ERA since May 11.
2. With 159 career saves, Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen is two shy of Eric Gagne’s team record.
3. The Giants placed INF Kelby Tomlinson on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left thumb and recalled INF Ramiro Pena from Triple-A Sacramento.
PREDICTION: Giants 6, Dodgers 5
