Los Angeles @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 23, 2011 ) LA Dodgers 2, San Diego 0

THE STORY: Matt Kemp is turning his pursuit of the Triple Crown into must-see TV. With five games to go, he’s within striking distance of becoming the first Triple Crown winner in 44 years. His chase continues Saturday when his Los Angeles Dodgers face the host San Diego Padres, who have dropped 12 of 16 games against their division rival this season.

TV: 8:35 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket, Channel 4SD

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Chad Billingsley (11-10, 4.23 ERA) at Padres RH Aaron Harang (13-7, 3.82 ERA)

Billingsley, who gave up one run over five innings last Sunday against the Pirates, has failed to go more than six innings in 19 of his 31 starts this season. He is 11-7 with a 2.76 ERA in 24 career games – nine starts – against the Padres.

Harang allowed two runs over six innings against the Diamondbacks last Sunday, and he’s given up just one run in two starts spanning 12 innings against the Dodgers this season. He’s 3-6 with a 4.83 ERA in 10 career starts against Los Angeles.

ABOUT THE DODGERS (79-77): Nine Dodgers can become free agents at the end of the season, including Rod Barajas, Juan Rivera, Hiroki Kuroda, Jonathan Broxton and Hong-Chih Kuo. Broxton is unlikely to return, but the Dodgers may be interested in Rivera and Barajas at the right price. Fortunately for the Dodgers, reliever Kenley Jansen isn’t going anywhere. After striking out all three batters he faced Friday, Jansen has 91 strikeouts in 51 1/3 innings this season. He’s struck out 29 of his past 47 batters and has combined with Javy Guerra to solidify the back of the team’s bullpen. Jansen and Guerra are a big reason Los Angeles is tied with Arizona for the National League’s best record since Aug. 22 at 22-8. The Dodgers also entered Friday’s action ranked second in the National League with a .283 team batting average in September.

ABOUT THE PADRES (68-89): Anthony Bass tossed five scoreless innings Wednesday against the Rockies, and he’ll pitch in the Arizona Fall League with hopes of earning a spot in next year’s starting rotation. Bass has made just two starts this season while working primarily as a reliever. Rookie first baseman Anthony Rizzo will also be busy this winter. Acquired last offseason as part of the Adrian Gonzalez trade, Rizzo batted .331 with 26 home runs for Triple-A Tucson but hit just .138 in 123 at-bats with the Padres. Rizzo will likely play winter ball in the Dominican Republic or Venezuela as he works to shorten his long swing. Kyle Blanks (quad) and Jesus Guzman (neck) were both out of Friday’s starting lineup, although Blanks appeared as a pinch hitter. Guzman, who could return Saturday, is batting .313 since being promoted from Tucson on June 16.

FINAL PITCH: The Dodgers’ Eugenio Velez is 0-for-36 this season after going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts Friday. His last major-league hit came on May 18, 2010.