Series Preview: Dodgers Look to Continue Hot Streak vs. Giants

After sweeping the Rangers in a two game series, the Dodgers will face the Giants at home over the weekend. The two rivals faced off 10 times through the first month of the season but have not seen each other since. The Giants took home the victory in six of those games but much has changed over the last month as San Francisco now looks up at Los Angeles in the NL West standings. The Dodgers and Giants are in second and third place, respectively, as both teams trail the 37-30 Arizona Diamondbacks.

18-6 in their last 24 games, the red-hot @Dodgers have turned it around and face the @Rangers in #Game2 of their two-game, #Interleague series. #LosAngeles is three games back of @Dbacks in the West. #TEXvsLAD #MLB @MLB @SportsNetLA @FOXSportsSW @James_Beach pic.twitter.com/k16WDhPdbg

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— WhereToWatchTheGame (@WTWTG) June 13, 2018

Pitching Probables

Friday, June 15, 7:10 PM PT

Derek Holland (4-6, 4.54 ERA) vs. Ross Stripling (5-1, 1.65 ERA)

As the series opener will feature a Kenley Calrissian Star Wars Bobblehead, the Dodgers offense will hope to have the Force on their side as they face Derek Holland.

The 10-year veteran has started 13 games so far in his first season as a Giant. He has not allowed more than four earned runs in a start but also has not pitched over 6.1 innings in any outing this year. In two starts against the Dodgers he allowed a total of seven earned runs in 8.1 innings.

Ross Stripling will look to continue on his tremendous run. The last time the Dodgers face the Giants, Stripling had still been coming out of the bullpen. In his last five starts, Stripling is 5-0 with a 1.15 ERA.

Saturday, June 16, 5:15 PM PT

Madison Bumgarner (0-1, 4.76 ERA) vs. Alex Wood (1-5, 4.43 ERA)

The middle game of the three game series will feature a pair of southpaws. Madison Bumgarner will take the mound for the Giants, making just his third start of the year. He suffered a fracture in his hand during Spring Training, forcing him to miss the first two months of the year.

Alex Wood will try to regain his old form in his start on Saturday afternoon. Over his last three starts, he has an ERA of 9.75. The last time he faced the Giants at home, Wood allowed just one hit in eight innings.

Sunday, June 17, 1:10 PM PT

Chris Stratton (7-4, 4.56 ERA) vs. TBA

The Dodgers will face Chris Stratton for the fourth time this year. The last time he faced Los Angeles, he allowed six runs in 1.1 innings. He has struggled of late but has not allowed a home run in his three starts in June

The Dodgers have not yet announced their starter for the last game of the series. With Walker Buehler on the 10-day disabled list, the team may move Caleb Ferguson a day up in the rotation or opt towards a bullpen day on Sunday. Ferguson allowed two runs in four innings in his last outing against the Rangers. The Dodgers won both of their games this month where the relievers started the game.

Giants Player to Watch: Brandon Crawford

When the Dodgers last saw Brandon Crawford, he was hitting below the Mendoza line. Since the beginning of May, the Giants shortstop is batting .412 with six home runs. His .328 batting average ranks fifth in the National League The UCLA product is batting only .227 in his career at Dodgers Stadium but he is a different player in 2018.

Brandon Crawford went 4-4 Sunday (3-3 vs Max Scherzer) and is now batting .439 since the start of May

Crawford hit .189 in March and April this season pic.twitter.com/rbQrlOly8l

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 10, 2018

Dodgers Player to Watch: Enrique Hernández

With a pair of lefties set to start the first two games against the Giants, Kike Hernández should see more playing time this series. This season has been an anomaly for Hernandez against southpaws, as he is only batting .215 with four home runs against left-handed pitching. Out of his 36 Major League home runs, 23 have come against lefties and against Madison Bumgarner, Hernandez is batting .467 with three home runs in his career.

Enrique Hernandez on his walk-off run scored at the plate in the 11th inning and the wild game all around.#Dodgers pic.twitter.com/5DkH5kCPEg

— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) June 14, 2018

Analysis

At only two games back of first place, the Dodgers can further their lead over the Giants in the standings this weekend. The Dodgers have not lost a series since the middle of May and have gone 18-6 over that stretch. The Giants will also be without third baseman Evan Longoria, who suffered a fractured hand against the Marlins on Thursday.