Los Angeles @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 2, 2015 ) San Francisco 1, LA Dodgers 2

The Los Angeles Dodgers had a number of chances to wrap up a playoff berth over the weekend, but were unable to seal the deal. Instead, the Dodgers will attempt to clinch their third straight National League West title in a venue they have yet to win in the season when they head to at AT&T Park on Monday to face the San Francisco Giants in the opener of a four-game set.

Los Angeles (87-68) entered its previous series having defeated Colorado in 11 of their 16 meetings in 2015, but the Rockies pounded the Dodgers for 27 runs over the weekend to sweep the division leaders. As a result, the Dodgers’ magic number to win the NL West remained at two, although they have to like their chances in the opener as Cy Young hopeful Zack Greinke takes the mound against a team he has yet to lose to in nine career starts. San Francisco (81-74) clawed within six games of Los Angeles following Sunday’s 5-4 win at Oakland as rookie Jarrett Parker followed up a three-homer, seven-RBI performance one day earlier with a 2-for-3 effort. The Giants will be eliminated from postseason consideration with a loss in any game in this series, but have won all six meetings at AT&T Park this season against their archrivals.
TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Zack Greinke (18-3, 1.65 ERA) vs. Giants RH Jake Peavy (7-6, 3.83)
Greinke skipped his last scheduled start to rest a sore calf, but returns to the mound aiming to extend his winning streak to six straight starts after holding Pittsburgh to two runs over seven innings on Sept. 18. The 2009 American League Cy Young Award winner has won all four of his turns in September, posting a 1.91 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and .184 batting average against. Greinke is 7-0 in his career versus the Giants – winning each of his last seven starts against them – while posting a 2.15 ERA.
Peavy continued his stellar September on Wednesday, allowing four hits and a walk over six scoreless innings in a no-decision at San Diego. The three-time All-Star, who has not lost in his last six trips to the mound, is 3-0 with a 2.19 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and .187 batting average against in four turns this month. Peavy yielded four runs over 5 2/3 frames in a no-decision versus the Dodgers in his worst outing during that stretch, but is 14-3 with a 2.42 ERA in 28 all-time starts against Los Angeles.

WALK-OFFS
1. The Dodgers are hopeful that 1B Adrian Gonzalez, who has missed three of the last four games with a pinched nerve in his back, will be ready to go for the opener.
2. San Francisco had lost 14 of its previous 15 one-run games prior to Sunday.
3. Los Angeles rookie SS Corey Seager has reached base safely in each of his 19 career starts, making him the first Dodger to accomplish that feat since Jim "Junior" Gilliam (24) in 1953.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 2, Giants 1