The San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers lock horns once again starting Monday, rekindling the battle for first place in the NL West with Clayton Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner squaring off in game one.
Kershaw (11-6, 2.90 ERA) has a 1.78 ERA his last four starts, all of them victories, which began back in San Francisco on July 29 after a complete game five-hitter and a 4-0 Dodgers win. The 2011 NL Cy Young Award winner is 6-2 with a 1.25 ERA since last season against them and owns a 1.32 ERA in 15 career starts, the lowest of any team he has faced at least three times.
As for Bumgarner (13-7, 2.97), he tossed a complete game five-hitter of his own during Tuesday's 6-1 victory, and looks to keep it up tonight against L.A. Bummy is 3-2 with a 2.25 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 48 innings since the All-Star break, but will be facing the Dodgers for the first time this year, against whom he is 4-2 with a 3.72 ERA in six career outings.
Don't forget to watch out for Matt Kemp and Buster Posey, both in the mix for NL MVP this season. Kemp is currently in an 0-for-15 slump but is batting .385 with a homer, three doubles and four RBIs in six games against the Giants this year. He is 2-11 lifetime against Bumgarner with three stikeouts and three walks to his credit.
As for Posey, he is batting .300 with one RBI in eight games against the Dodgers this year. He still owns a .424 average with a 1.246 OPS since the All-Star break along with nine homers and 34 RBI.
First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. PT with coverage on CSN Bay Area and KNBR 680 AM.
For more on the Giants head to McCovey Chronicles.