Los Angeles @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 19, 2011 ) LA Dodgers 3, San Francisco 5

THE STORY: The San Francisco Giants go for a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers when the two teams square off Wednesday afternoon. The Giants notched a 5-3 victory Tuesday for their sixth consecutive victory over the Dodgers. It marks the first time San Francisco has defeated Los Angeles six straight times since 1969. Overall, San Francisco has won nine of its last 11 games. The Dodgers have lost four straight and trail the Giants by 14 1/2 games in the National League West standings. The finale features an outstanding pitching matchup as All-Stars Clayton Kershaw and Tim Lincecum square off for the second time this season. Kershaw and the Dodgers beat Lincecum 2-1 back on Opening Day.

TV: 3:45 p.m. ET, FSPT (Los Angeles), CSBA (San Francisco).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (10-4, 2.88) vs. Giants RH Tim Lincecum (8-7, 2.99).

Kershaw has won eight of his last nine decisions and is 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA in three starts against the Giants this season. He didn’t allow a run in either victory but gave up four runs in five innings during a no-decision in May. He has a 3-1 career mark and 1.62 ERA in nine career appearances (eight starts) against San Francisco. Kershaw beat Arizona in his last start when he gave up four runs (all unearned) and five hits in seven innings. Hot-hitting Pablo Sandoval is batting .222 against Kershaw in 18 career at-bats.

Lincecum has given up just one run in winning each of his past two starts. He has a 1.74 ERA over his last five outings and hasn’t allowed a homer in any of his last seven starts. Lincecum is 0-1 with a 2.19 ERA in two starts against Los Angeles this season. Overall, he is 5-2 with a 3.22 ERA in 12 appearances (11 starts) against the Dodgers. Andre Ethier is batting .281 with two homers in 32 career at-bats against Lincecum.

ABOUT THE GIANTS (57-41): San Francisco is 11-5 in July and 27-14 against NL West clubs. The Giants acquired veteran second baseman Jeff Keppinger from the Houston Astros for minor-league pitchers Henry Sosa and Jason Stoffel. Keppinger is batting .307. The Giants made the deal after Miguel Tejada (abdominal strain) went on the disabled list Tuesday, joining middle infielders Freddy Sanchez (shoulder) and Bill Hall (leg). First baseman Brandon Belt was recalled from Triple-A Fresno and had a homer and three RBIs in Tuesday’s victory. Belt was recalled because Aubrey Huff was experiencing back soreness. Pablo Sandoval is 5-for-7 in the series.

ABOUT THE DODGERS (42-55): Matt Kemp had a ninth-inning single against Brian Wilson for his first career hit against the Giants’ closer in 11 career at-bats. Ethier didn’t start Tuesday against Madison Bumgarner partly due to knee soreness and partly due to his .228 average against left-handed pitchers. Ethier, who is in a 4-for-37 slump after flying out to end the game, is expected back in the starting lineup against Lincecum. Rafael Furcal had a two-run single and is now 4-for-42 since coming off the disabled list earlier this month. Outfielder Marcus Thames cleared waivers Tuesday and is now a free agent. Thames hit just .197 in 36 games with the Dodgers.

FINAL PITCH: “I get to go to a team that’s in contention. This will be the first time I’ve ever actually been on a team that’s been in first place or even with a winning record. It’s definitely exciting and that’s what you want when you play this game.” – Keppinger to reporters after learning he had been traded from the last-place Astros to the first-place Giants.