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Dodgers-Giants Preview

Jun 30, 2010 - 6:46 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Los Angeles (42-35) at San Francisco (40-36), 3:45 p.m. EDT

The Los Angeles Dodgers have some issues in their outfield to sort out as they try for their first sweep at AT&T Park in three seasons.

Manny Ramirez's status is uncertain while Matt Kemp is expected to return to the lineup Wednesday for the Dodgers when they look to hand the San Francisco Giants a fifth straight loss.

In search of its first sweep at San Francisco since July 13-15, 2007, Los Angeles (42-35) has posted back-to-back 4-2 wins to start this series. Kemp did not start either of them, and was benched for Sunday's 8-6, 10-inning loss to the New York Yankees.

He was called into action and went 2 for 4 Tuesday after Ramirez hurt his hamstring running the bases in the first inning. The Dodgers will wait to do an MRI exam unless Ramirez is significantly worse Wednesday.

"I'm not thinking about the DL right now, I'm thinking about how he comes in tomorrow," athletic trainer Stan Conte said. "I'll know a whole lot more tomorrow in terms of how he recovers."

The slumping Kemp was 10 for 62 in 18 games before Tuesday's victory. Kemp had a 20-minute pre-game meeting with manager Joe Torre, who indicated that the center fielder will start Wednesday.

Torre had said that he wanted to give Andre Ethier the day off Wednesday, but may have to reconsider. The manager was pleased at how Kemp fared Tuesday.

"A couple hits is not going to hurt his confidence," Torre said.

The Dodgers appear to have the edge in Wednesday's pitching matchup since Vicente Padilla (1-2, 5.82 ERA) has never lost a start at AT&T Park while Giants starter Jonathan Sanchez (6-5, 3.03) has never beaten Los Angeles.

Padilla is 4-0 with a 2.36 ERA in five career starts at AT&T, and improved to 5-2 with a 2.95 ERA in nine career outings against the Giants by beating them April 16 in Los Angeles. He may want to be careful with San Francisco cleanup hitter Aubrey Huff, who is 8 for 14 against him.

This is Padilla's third start since being activated off the 15-day disabled list June 19 after being out two months with a sore right forearm. He pitched well Friday against the Yankees, allowing two runs over seven innings in a 2-1 loss.

Sanchez is 0-4 with a 6.13 ERA in eight career starts against the Dodgers, and could help Kemp get untracked. Kemp is 7 for 17 against Sanchez.

In his last start, Sanchez gave up three runs in 5 1-3 innings to earn a 5-4 home win over Boston on Friday. The left-hander improved to 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA in his last three home starts.

San Francisco (40-36) has lost four straight - one shy of its season high - since Sanchez's last outing, managing seven runs in the slide. Pablo Sandoval is in a 7-for-33 slump, and Bengie Molina a 9-for-47 slide.

The lineup could receive a boost Wednesday. First baseman Buster Posey is expected to make his first start of the series after manager Bruce Bochy used the rookie as a pinch-hitter in the first two games.