Dodgers vs Giants Preview: Veterans look for the fountain of youth

After a great opening day, the Boys in Blue lost last night and are looking to get back on track tonight in game three of the series.

This match-up includes two veteran pitchers looking to regain their old form as they finish up the three game set at Dodger Stadium.

For the Dodgers, Josh Beckett will take mound, and for the sake of all Dodgers Nation, hopefully he can be as effective as he once was with the Red Sox and Marlins.

Coming to Los Angeles was a new opportunity for Beckett, a new birth for the former ace, and coming in as the third or fourth starter will allow him to not have to carry the load throughout the season.

Beckett gets to face the defending World Series champions today, but has championship experience himself, so expect him to be confident out there on the mound.

He could be a great tool for all the younger pitchers in the clubhouse because of his experience and more importantly his championship runs.

Tim Lincecum will be on the mound for the Giants in the finale. They can only hope to see him return to his Cy Young form of yesteryear.

The Freak struggled last year, and his struggles led him to lose his position in the starting rotation and was relegated to the bullpen during their run to the World Series.

Hopefully the Dodgers can send him back to the bullpen after today’s game.

San Francisco Giants (1-1) at Los Angeles Dodgers (1-1)
Tim Lincecum (0-0, -.– ERA ) vs. Josh Beckett (0-0, -.– ERA)
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, Calif.
7:10 p.m. PT, April 3
TV: KCAL, ESPN2
Radio: 570 AM (English), 1020 AM (Spanish)
Game-Time Weather: 67 degrees, mostly sunny

Keys to a Dodger Win:
-Need to hit and score early
Lincecum is coming off a horrendous year, and he is looking to regain his confidence. The Dodgers need to come out and pounce on Lincecum and get him rattled early to get some runs on the board. Both Giants starters were effective the first two games, so it is important for the Dodgers to draw blood quickly and early.

-Crawford and Kemp must be effective
Crawford is back in the lineup today and his production is needed at the plate to generate runs, but more importantly getting him on base so he can utilize his speed and force in some runs the hard way.

Kemp has struggled in the first two games, going 0-for-6, He is due for a big game, and although he is coming off shoulder surgery, the Dodgers need his bat to get the offense rolling and not leave runners on base. Drive them home Kemp!

Prediction: Dodgers 5, Giants 2