The Los Angeles Dodgers picked up a big win Friday night behind another strong start from Clayton Kershaw and Justin Turner’s go ahead home run in the ninth inning. The victory cut the San Francisco Giants’ lead in the National League West to three games entering Saturday’s game.
Los Angeles now looks to get a series win behind Scott Kazmir, who is opposed by Jeff Samardzija. After a rough string of starts earlier this season, Kazmir has rebounded nicely and looked the part of a No. 2 starter.
In 17 innings pitched over his last three starts, he’s 2-0 with a 2.12 ERA and 24 strikeouts to just four walks; the Dodgers have won each of the outings. Overall this season, Kazmir is 5-3 with 4.46 ERA, 4.61 FIP and 1.24 WHIP in 12 starts.
Kazmir is 0-1 with an 11.25 ERA and 2.37 WHIP in two starts against the Giants this season, making one on the road and at home. He was knocked around in the outing at AT&T Park, allowing six runs on seven hits, including three home runs, in just four innings of work.
As for Samardzija, he’s coming off a pair of rocky starts. In the two games, he allowed a combined 11 runs (10 earned) on 15 hits, going just five innings in each start. The St. Louis Cardinals tagged Samardzija for four home runs his last time out.
He allowed three runs, had three strikeouts over six innings and suffered a loss in his lone start against the Dodgers this season. The right-hander is 7-4 with a 3.33 ERA, 4.23 FIP and 1.29 WHIP in 12 starts. Samardzija is 3-1 with a 2.93 ERA in four starts at AT&T Park this season.
The Dodgers’ lineup appears as it did in the series opener, with the lone change coming in left field as Howie Kendrick earns the start.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Chase Utley
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
RF: Trayce Thompson
CF: Joc Pederson
C: Yasmani Grandal
LF: Howie Kendrick
P: Scott Kazmir
Giants lineup:
CF: Denard Span
2B: Joe Panik
1B: Brandon Belt
C: Buster Posey
2B: Matt Duffy
SS: Brandon Crawford
LF: Mac Williamson
RF: Gregor Blanco
P: Jeff Samardzija
