Los Angeles @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 27, 2012 ) LA Dodgers 5, San Francisco 3

Hanley Ramirez announced his presence in the National League West race Friday with his game-winning home run in the 10th inning, helping Los Angeles pull within two games of the division-leading Giants. The Dodgers snapped a four-game losing streak at AT&T Park and showed why the Giants are shopping for relief help with the July 31 trade deadline fast approaching. Los Angeles center fielder Matt Kemp went 0-for-5 in the series opener and is 2-for-21 with seven strikeouts in his last five games.

Third baseman Pablo Sandoval (hamstring) has missed the Giants’ past two games, and there’s a chance he may need a stint on the disabled list. San Francisco added some infield depth on Friday by trading minor league second baseman Charlie Culberson to Colorado for infielder Marco Scutaro, who was hitting .271 with four home runs and 30 RBIs for the Rockies. Scutaro hasn’t played third base since 2008, but he may be asked to spend time there if Sandoval lands on the DL. Scutaro could also see time at shortstop and second base.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Chad Billingsley (5-9, 4.15 ERA) vs. Giants LH Barry Zito (8-6, 3.75)

Billingsley looked sharp last Monday in his first start since landing on the disabled list with an elbow injury, giving up one run over six innings against St. Louis. Billingsley went 0-5 with a 6.21 ERA in his last five starts before going on the DL, and he’s 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two starts against the Giants this season.

Zito had a season-high seven strikeouts against the Phillies last Sunday while giving up three runs in seven innings. After a stellar April, Zito's ERA is 4.41 since May 1. He has a 3.79 ERA in 22 career starts against the Dodgers, and he's 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in two outings this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen has eight saves while holding the opposition to a .152 average (7-for-46) in July.

2. San Francisco has scored at least three runs in 12 of its 13 games since the All-Star break.

3. Los Angeles SS Luis Cruz went 1-for-4 on Friday, extending his career-long hitting streak to 10 games.