Los Angeles @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 10, 2011 ) LA Dodgers 3, San Francisco 0

THE STORY: Now 9 1/2 games behind Arizona in the National League West with 17 to play, the San Francisco Giants are finally ready to look toward next season. Expect the team to rest its veterans down the stretch starting with Sunday’s series finale against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers, who have won 15 of their last 18 to climb to .500 for the first time since May 2.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket, CSNBA

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Hiroki Kuroda (11-15, 3.18 ERA) at Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (10-12, 3.37 ERA).

Kuroda gave up a career-high four homers while allowing five runs in six innings last Monday against the Nationals. He had never given up more than two homers in 109 career starts. The Dodgers are 7-3 in Kuroda’s last 10 starts against teams from the NL West. Bumgarner allowed two runs over 8 1/3 innings and struck out a career-high 13 against the Padres last Monday. He is 3-1 with a 3.18 ERA in five career starts against the Dodgers, and the Giants are 7-1 in his last eight home starts.

ABOUT THE DODGERS (72-72): Los Angeles has a lot of question marks for next year, but the back end of the bullpen isn’t one of them. Kenley Jansen has been overshadowed this season by rookie closer Javy Guerra, but Jansen is quietly putting up stellar numbers of his own. In 22 games since returning from a shoulder problem in June, Jansen has an 0.38 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings. He allowed just his sixth hit in his last 74 at-bats on Saturday, and it was the first extra-base hit since May 23. Assuming Guerra remains the team’s closer, Jansen will likely enter next season as the Dodgers’ primary setup man. Outfielder Andre Ethier will receive a third opinion regarding surgery on his right knee, but he’ll likely have the surgery before starting two months of rehab. Shortstop Dee Gordon entered Saturday leading the majors with 17 hits in September and he’s growing more confident on the bases with six steals this month.

ABOUT THE GIANTS (75-70): Barry Zito (ankle) could be activated from the disabled list as early as Sunday, and he'll likely pitch in long relief as the Giants continue to evaluate rookie Eric Surkamp, who has served as the team’s fifth starter in recent weeks. Fellow starter Jonathan Sanchez remains out with a high left ankle sprain and he’s unlikely to return this season. Outfielder Nate Schierholtz could also be out for the year after visiting another foot specialist on Friday. Schierholtz, who has been out since Aug. 22 with a fractured right foot, will be in a walking boot for at least another week. The good news is that closer Brian Wilson (elbow) had a successful bullpen session Friday and could return as soon as Tuesday. There’s also a chance the Giants will play it safe with their eccentric closer and shut him down for the season.

FINAL PITCH: The Dodgers’ win Friday was general manager Ned Colletti’s 500th since taking over the position prior to the 2006 season. The Dodgers are 501-453 (.525) during Colletti’s tenure.