Los Angeles @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 7, 2012 ) LA Dodgers 2, San Francisco 5

The Los Angeles Dodgers made plenty of big-name acquisitions at the trade deadline, but it’s a minor trade that could prove to be the difference in the National League West pennant race. The San Francisco Giants stand 5 1/2 games ahead of the Dodgers in the division after Marco Scutaro hit a tiebreaking, two-run single in the eighth inning of Friday’s 4-2 win. Scutaro has hit safely in 31 of 39 games since being traded from Colorado, going 53-for-160 (.331) with 25 RBIs. He’s also recorded a multi-hit game in 13 of his last 22 games, including Friday’s series opener. The Giants have won four straight against the Dodgers, and they’re 14-7 since outfielder Melky Cabrera was suspended for testing positive for testosterone.

While the Giants are getting contributions from throughout their lineup, the Dodgers are getting very little from the heart of their order. Adrian Gonzalez, Matt Kemp, Hanley Ramirez and Andre Ethier were a combined 0-for-17 on Friday, and Los Angeles went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Kemp is 3-for-30 since returning to the lineup after running into the wall at Coors Field last month, and Gonzalez is hitting .241 (13-for-54) with a home run and 10 RBI in 13 games since arriving from Boston. Los Angeles is tied with Pittsburgh in the chase for the second wild card spot, with both teams sitting 1 1/2 games behind St. Louis.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Chris Capuano (11-10, 3.63 ERA) vs. Giants RH Matt Cain (13-5, 2.98)

Capuano allowed three runs over five innings last Sunday against the Diamondbacks and was pulled after throwing 78 pitches. He’s winless over his last four outings with a 6.95 ERA over that stretch, and he’s just 2-6 with a 4.91 ERA in 10 starts since the All-Star break. Capuano lost his lone start against the Giants this season and is winless in five career appearances (three starts) at AT&T Park.

After going 3-0 with a 1.82 ERA in his previous four starts, Cain allowed five runs over five innings last Sunday against the Cubs. He’s 4-8 with a 3.45 ERA in 21 career starts against the Dodgers, including 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA over two starts this season. He’s 4-1 with a 2.50 ERA in his last eight starts against Los Angeles dating to 2010.

WALK-OFFS

1. Ethier is 25-for-53 (.472) lifetime against Cain, and Gonzalez is 18-for-56 (.321) with four homers against the Giants starter.

2. Giants 1B Brandon Belt has hit safely in 22 of 33 games and he’s batting .366 since Aug. 1. Belt made a rare start in left field on Friday while Buster Posey played first base and Hector Sanchez started at catcher.

3. The Dodgers and Giants have alternated series sweeps in their last three meetings and will conclude the regular season with a three-game series in Los Angeles.