Preview: Dodgers at Giants
GAME: Los Angeles Dodgers (88-69) at San Francisco Giants (82-75)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, September 30 - 10:15 PM EST
WHERE: AT&T Park, San Francisco, California
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
The Los Angeles Dodgers have clinched their third consecutive National League West title, but don’t expect many regulars to rest Wednesday when they continue a four-game series against the host San Francisco Giants. The Dodgers are one game back of the New York Mets for home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs with five games to play, although the Mets hold the tiebreaker based on a better head-to-head record.
The Dodgers eliminated the reigning World Series champions from the postseason with Tuesday’s 8-0 victory and also made news before the game, when manager Don Mattingly replaced veteran shortstop Jimmy Rollins with rookie Corey Seager in the starting lineup. Rollins, who is batting .225 with 13 home runs, will likely come off the bench for the rest of the season as the Dodgers look for the 21-year-old Seager (.333, three home runs, 15 RBIs in 79 at-bats) to build on his promising start. Los Angeles won for the first time in eight tries this season at AT&T Park on Tuesday and could face a young San Francisco lineup Wednesday. The injury-plagued Giants will likely give rookies Mac Williamson, Jarrett Parker and Kelby Tomlinson extensive playing time over the final five games.
TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Mike Bolsinger (6-5, 3.48 ERA) vs. Giants RH Mike Leake (10-10, 3.89)
Bolsinger’s recent struggles continued Friday as he allowed seven runs (four earned) over four innings at Colorado. “I haven't put myself in a good position for anything,” he told reporters. “It’s kind of embarrassing at this point right now. Got to figure out what to do to finish strong.” The 27-year-old fell to 0-3 with a 4.56 ERA in four career starts against the Giants after yielding five runs in 5 1/3 innings June 19 at Dodger Stadium.
Leake lost for the fourth time in his last five starts Friday, when he allowed four runs over six innings against Oakland. The 27-year-old has failed to impress in eight starts since being acquired from Cincinnati, yielding 25 runs over 46 1/3 innings and completing seven innings once. Andre Ethier is 7-for-18 with two home runs against Leake, who is 2-4 with a 4.89 ERA in seven career games (six starts) against the Dodgers.
WALK-OFFS
1. Seager has reached base in all 21 games he has started, which is the longest streak to begin a career in Los Angeles Dodgers history.
2. Giants OF Nori Aoki (concussion) could be cleared to pinch-hit before the season ends.
3. The Dodgers are 41-22 in Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke’s starts but 47-47 in starts by all others.
PREDICTION: Giants 6, Dodgers 4
GAME: Los Angeles Dodgers (88-69) at San Francisco Giants (82-75)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, September 30 - 10:15 PM EST
WHERE: AT&T Park, San Francisco, California
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
The Los Angeles Dodgers have clinched their third consecutive National League West title, but don’t expect many regulars to rest Wednesday when they continue a four-game series against the host San Francisco Giants. The Dodgers are one game back of the New York Mets for home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs with five games to play, although the Mets hold the tiebreaker based on a better head-to-head record.
The Dodgers eliminated the reigning World Series champions from the postseason with Tuesday’s 8-0 victory and also made news before the game, when manager Don Mattingly replaced veteran shortstop Jimmy Rollins with rookie Corey Seager in the starting lineup. Rollins, who is batting .225 with 13 home runs, will likely come off the bench for the rest of the season as the Dodgers look for the 21-year-old Seager (.333, three home runs, 15 RBIs in 79 at-bats) to build on his promising start. Los Angeles won for the first time in eight tries this season at AT&T Park on Tuesday and could face a young San Francisco lineup Wednesday. The injury-plagued Giants will likely give rookies Mac Williamson, Jarrett Parker and Kelby Tomlinson extensive playing time over the final five games.
TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Mike Bolsinger (6-5, 3.48 ERA) vs. Giants RH Mike Leake (10-10, 3.89)
Bolsinger’s recent struggles continued Friday as he allowed seven runs (four earned) over four innings at Colorado. “I haven't put myself in a good position for anything,” he told reporters. “It’s kind of embarrassing at this point right now. Got to figure out what to do to finish strong.” The 27-year-old fell to 0-3 with a 4.56 ERA in four career starts against the Giants after yielding five runs in 5 1/3 innings June 19 at Dodger Stadium.
Leake lost for the fourth time in his last five starts Friday, when he allowed four runs over six innings against Oakland. The 27-year-old has failed to impress in eight starts since being acquired from Cincinnati, yielding 25 runs over 46 1/3 innings and completing seven innings once. Andre Ethier is 7-for-18 with two home runs against Leake, who is 2-4 with a 4.89 ERA in seven career games (six starts) against the Dodgers.
WALK-OFFS
1. Seager has reached base in all 21 games he has started, which is the longest streak to begin a career in Los Angeles Dodgers history.
2. Giants OF Nori Aoki (concussion) could be cleared to pinch-hit before the season ends.
3. The Dodgers are 41-22 in Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke’s starts but 47-47 in starts by all others.
PREDICTION: Giants 6, Dodgers 4
