Los Angeles @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 12, 2014 ) LA Dodgers 0, San Francisco 9

The Los Angeles Dodgers have their two aces lined up for the next two games, but the San Francisco Giants have all the momentum. San Francisco can move into a first-place tie with Los Angeles atop the National League West with a victory Saturday at AT&T Park, where the Giants have won 10 in a row. Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw are set to start the final two games of the series for the Dodgers after the Giants extended their winning streak to four with Friday’s 9-0 win.

San Francisco outfielder Michael Morse (oblique) is expected to miss the series, but right fielder Hunter Pence will almost surely be in his usual spot all weekend. Pence, who has made 318 consecutive starts, leads the NL in hits (176) and is second in runs scored (103) while serving as the team’s emotional leader. The Dodgers could use a strong outing by Greinke on Saturday after Hyun-Jin Ryu tossed just one inning Friday before leaving due to left shoulder irritation.

TV: 9:05 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Zack Greinke (14-8, 2.73 ERA) vs. Giants RH Tim Hudson (9-10, 3.12)

Greinke has been outstanding in five career starts against the Giants while posting a 2.30 ERA. Pence is 4-for-19 with two home runs against the two-time All-Star, who has gone 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA in three starts versus San Francisco this season. Opponents are batting .246 against Greinke, who is 9-0 in 11 starts against NL West opponents this season.

Hudson bounced back from a rough outing at Colorado by allowing three runs in six innings against Detroit last Sunday. The 39-year-old is 6-4 with a 3.46 ERA in 15 career starts against the Dodgers, including six strong innings on May 11. Adrian Gonzalez is 10-for-23 with two homers and Matt Kemp is 6-for-18 with a homer against Hudson, who has issued just 31 walks in 178 2/3 innings this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Dodgers OF Yasiel Puig has not homered since July 31, a stretch of 126 at-bats.

2. Giants C Buster Posey is batting .464 with seven homers and 25 RBIs over his last 20 games.

3. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said RHP Carlos Frias will join the starting rotation if Ryu lands on the disabled list.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 4, Giants 2