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Giants-Dodgers Preview

Jul 19, 2010 - 2:01 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

San Francisco (50-41) at Los Angeles (49-42), 10:10 p.m. EDT

The San Francisco Giants' starting rotation has been dominant since the All-Star break. Lately, so has rookie left-hander Madison Bumgarner.

In his first appearance of the second half, Bumgarner tries to win his third straight start Monday when the surging Giants open a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are hoping a healthy lineup and a return to Chavez Ravine will help them snap a four-game slide.

San Francisco (50-42), which has won nine of 11 to move one game ahead of the Dodgers (49-43) in the NL West standings, has benefited from some spectacular starting pitching since the All-Star break. Tim Lincecum, Barry Zito, Matt Cain and Jonathan Sanchez each went at least seven innings and posted a combined 1.16 ERA as the Giants took three of four from the New York Mets in a series that ended with Sunday's 4-3, 10-inning loss.

With his team beginning a seven-game trip, manager Bruce Bochy will look for another solid outing from Bumgarner (2-2, 2.57 ERA), who is 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA in his last two starts. Making his fifth major league start, the 20-year-old struck out a career-high six and allowed one run in six-plus innings of a 6-2 victory at Washington on July 11.

"I feel like confidence is a big thing, and if you have a little bit of success you get more confidence," said Bumgarner. "I'm pretty happy with these last two starts."

Bumgarner, who has never started against Los Angeles, struck out two in a scoreless inning of relief in a 12-1 loss at Dodger Stadium on Sept. 19.

Bumgarner faces a Los Angeles team that's going for its first win since the All-Star break. Dodgers relievers allowed five runs in the final two innings of Sunday's 5-4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, with closer Jonathan Broxton suffering his third blown save after letting two runs score in 1 1-3 innings of work.

"It was tough, very tough," said manager Joe Torre, whose team will try to avoid its first five-game slide since a six-game stretch June 17-23. "We just asked too much out of Brox."

With Manny Ramirez (tight right calf), James Loney (left hamstring cramp) and Russell Martin (sore left thumb) all nursing injuries and questionable for Monday, the Dodgers will hope for a solid effort from James McDonald, who is expected to be called up from Triple-A Albuquerque to make his first appearance this season.

The right-hander went 5-5 with a 4.00 ERA in 45 games - four starts - for Los Angeles in 2009.

McDonald, who has a 1.93 ERA in seven career relief appearances versus San Francisco, will try to slow down a Giants club that leads the majors in runs this month with 87.

Catcher Buster Posey has been one the major catalysts for San Francisco's offense, batting .468 with six homers and 17 RBIs during a 12-game hitting streak.

Los Angeles has won five of six versus San Francisco this season, including two of three at Dodger Stadium from April 16-18.

The Giants have won seven of nine on the road.