The Los Angeles Dodgers extended their winning streak to five games by defeating the San Francisco Giants in the first meeting between the two rivals this season, and now they can guarantee a series win at Oracle Park.
Doing so would possibly pull L.A. into a tie for first place in the National League West standings. They enter play one game back of the Giants and San Diego Padres, who are both atop the division standings at 28-17.
The Dodgers figure to be in good position as they hand the ball to Walker Buehler. He’s the only Dodgers starter to go at least six innings in every outing this year, and he’s 2-0 with a 2.98 ERA.
Buehler is a career 4-0 with a 3.00 ERA in seven games (five starts) against the Giants. Each of his wins have come in their home ballpark.
The Giants counter with Scott Kazmir, who was scratched from a Triple-A start and called up Saturday. Kazmir faced the Dodgers during Spring Training this year, allowing two runs and collecting four strikeouts in three innings.
Kazmir is slated to pitch in the Majors for the first time since spending the 2016 season with the Dodgers. He went 10-6 with a 4.56 ERA in 26 starts for L.A. that year.
“Credit to Scott. Wants to keep going, feels there’s more in the tank,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I definitely didn’t expect to see him make a start against us this year, but credit to his perseverance.”
Max Muncy is back in the Dodgers lineup after being given somewhat of a night off in the series opener. Mookie Betts and Will Smith are getting their turn to take a rest.
Saturday’s game is an exclusive regional broadcast of FOX, with Joe Davis handling play-by-play duties.
Dodgers lineup
CF: Chris Taylor
3B: Justin Turner
2B: Max Muncy
1B: Albert Pujols
SS: Gavin Lux
C: Austin Barnes
LF: Matt Beaty
RF: DJ Peters
P: Walker Buehler
Giants lineup
RF: Mike Yastrzemski
C: Buster Posey
SS: Brandon Crawford
1B: Brandon Belt
3B: Evan Longoria
LF: Alex Dickerson
2B: Mauricio Dubon
CF: Mike Tauchman
P: Scott Kazmir
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