Los Angeles @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 26, 2012 ) LA Dodgers 0, San Francisco 2

The San Francisco Giants can move into a tie for first place in the National League West with the slumping Los Angeles Dodgers if they can complete a sweep of the three-game series. San Francisco has recorded consecutive home shutouts over the Dodgers for the first time since Aug. 15-16, 1987, while the Dodgers have lost seven of the first eight on their nine-game road trip. Los Angeles has scored just 13 runs during that stretch, and Matt Kemp isn’t expected back until just after the All-Star break.

Giants closer Santiago Casilla recorded a fairly uneventful save on Tuesday after struggling over the past week. Casilla had given up five earned runs on six hits (including two homers) in his last three appearances covering 1 2/3 innings, but he worked around one baserunner Tuesday to record his 21st save. Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen has six saves this month, but he hasn’t been called upon since Saturday against the Angels.

TV: 3:45 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Chad Billingsley (4-6, 4.15 ERA) vs. Giants RH Tim Lincecum (2-8, 6.07 ERA)

Billingsley, who has given up 10 runs over his last two starts covering 11 innings, allowed six runs over five innings against the Angels last Friday. Billingsley gave up two runs over four innings against the Giants on May 9, and he has a 3.70 ERA at AT&T Park over seven starts since 2009.

The Giants hope Lincecum turned a corner in his last start, when he gave up three runs on three hits with eight strikeouts over six innings against the Athletics. Lincecum allowed all three runs in the first inning before cruising through the next five. He has a 3.07 ERA in 15 career starts against the Dodgers.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Giants have been successful in 21 of their last 23 stolen base attempts.

2. Dodgers SS Dee Gordon was caught stealing Tuesday after recording a stolen base in his last three games.

3. Giants starting pitcher Ryan Vogelsong has allowed one run against the Dodgers over 14 1/3 innings this season.