• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Dodgers-Giants Preview

Jun 28, 2010 - 6:00 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Los Angeles (40-35) at San Francisco (40-34), 10:15 p.m. EDT

Two weeks ago, the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers were tied for second place in the NL West, just out of the top spot.

The clubs are still in the mix for second, but they're quickly falling out of the playoff race.

The sputtering rivals look to break out of their funks when they open a three-game series Monday night in San Francisco.

The race for the division crown was shaping up to be very interesting with San Diego holding a half-game lead over the Giants and Dodgers on June 14. The West was the only division in which the top three teams were separated by one game.

That's not the case anymore, however, as the Padres have the largest division lead in the NL. San Francisco (40-34) has dropped six of nine to fall 4 1/2 games out of first, while Los Angeles has gone 4-11 in its last 15 and fallen five back.

Los Angeles (40-35) has had its share of disheartening losses over the last few weeks, but is coming off one of its toughest defeats.

Playing the New York Yankees in manager Joe Torre's first series against his former team, the Dodgers coughed up a four-run ninth-inning lead and lost 8-6 in 10 on Sunday.

"It's upsetting," closer Jonathan Broxton said. "We had a four-run lead and I just couldn't hold on."

Slumping Matt Kemp was given a rare day off Sunday. The center fielder has hit .182 with 21 strikeouts in his last 14 games, but is 16 for 35 (.457) against scheduled starter Barry Zito.

The Giants, who lost two of three at Dodger Stadium from April 16-18, are coming off a 5-1 loss to Boston on Sunday. San Francisco opens a season-high 11-game road trip after this series, and knows it needs to string some wins together to get back in the division hunt.

"This is an important stretch for us," manager Bruce Bochy told the Giants' official website. "This is a part of the season that kind of determines where you're at. It's a measuring stick."

Bochy hopes Zito (7-4, 3.45 ERA) can set the tone.

The left-hander gave up five runs in a season-low four innings of a 6-3 loss at Houston on Wednesday. He has allowed five runs in two of his last four starts after giving up that many once in his first 11 outings.

Zito appears to have a good chance to bounce back at AT&T Park, where he is 5-1 with a 2.82 ERA in eight starts.

One of Zito's best starts of the year came at Dodger Stadium on April 18, when he gave up one run and four hits in 7 1-3 innings of a 2-1 loss. He didn't receive a decision.

The Dodgers counter with Chad Billingsley (6-4, 4.34), who is expected to be activated from the disabled list.

Billingsley hasn't pitched since giving up seven runs in 5 2-3 innings of a 10-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on June 11. The right-hander was 0-2 with a 6.41 ERA in three starts before going on the DL with a strained groin.

Just as Zito has been at his best at home, Billingsley has excelled on the road, going 4-1 with a 2.78 ERA in six starts.

This will be Billingsley's first appearance of the season versus the Giants. He went 1-2 with a 3.20 ERA in four starts against them last year.