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Lincecum looks to help his cause in Cy Young bid

Sep 28, 2008 - 7:38 AM LA Dodgers (84-77) at San Francisco (71-90), 4:05 pm EDT

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- Even though the San Francisco Giants don't have a lot to play for, their young ace does.

Tim Lincecum looks to solidify himself as the National League Cy Young favorite as the Giants conclude a disappointing season against the playoff-bound Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.

Throughout the trying campaign, Lincecum (17-5, 2.66 ERA) has been one of the few bright spots for San Francisco, which is in fourth place of the NL West.

In order to assure his frontrunning position against Arizona Diamondbacks ace Brandon Webb in the voting process, the 24-year-old fireballer will need to shut down a rolling Dodgers club.

Los Angeles won 18 of 23 games leading up their division title

The Dodgers' season took a turn for the better on July 26, the day the club acquired third baseman Casey Blake from the Cleveland Indians. Five days later, they landed the most significant midseason addition in their history, nabbing Manny Ramirez in a three-way deal involving the Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates.

Ramirez has hit 17 home runs while recording 53 RBI in his first 50 games as a Dodger.

Los Angeles sends Hiroki Kuroda (9-10, 3.84) to the mound. The 33-year-old Japanese righthander has impressed in first season, yielding five or more runs in just six of his 30 starts.

The Dodgers might not learn the team they will face in the NL Division Series until Monday, though. The New York Mets (89-72) and Milwaukee Brewers (89-72) are locked in a tie for the wild card, and if both teams win or lose on Sunday, a one-game playoff would be held in New York the following day.

If the Mets grab the wild-card spot, the Dodgers will face the East-champion Philadelphia Phillies (91-70) in the first round. If the Brewers claim it, Los Angeles takes on the Central-champion Chicago Cubs (97-63).