The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants open up a three-game series in the National League West Monday night at AT&T Park

Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco Giants

Los Angeles has all but dropped out of the divisional race and will be looking to play spoiler against San Francisco to start the week.  The Dodgers dropped two of three games against the Diamondbacks over the weekend, managing to score just three runs in the last two games.  The club also dropped below .500 against divisional opponents, entering this series with a 16-17 mark.  It’s important to note that the squad won four of the first five meetings between the two teams to start the year, only to drop the last four contests.  Los Angeles is 19-26 on the road this year and 30-40 against right-handed starters.

Dodgers starting pitcher Chad Billingsley is 8-7 with a 3.87 ERA in 19 starts this season and is coming off a brilliant performance.  The right-hander captured a 1-0 home victory over the Padres on July 8, tossing eight shutout innings and surrendering just four hits.  He will be making his 11th overall road start, coming in with an even 4-4 mark and 5.37 ERA, issuing 25 walks in just 57 frames.  In 23 career appearances (18 starts) versus the Giants, Billingsley is 7-4 with a 3.01 ERA, including a 2-2 mark and 2.90 ERA in 12 outings (nine starts) at AT&T Park.

San Francisco continues to get things done against NL West foes, taking three of four games against the Padres, as the offense actually scored 19 runs in the series.  “We always want to take home the series,” said Giants closer Brian Wilson.  “We don’t want to come in and win two, lose two.”  The Giants hold a 3.5-game advantage over the Diamondbacks heading into a new week and is 25-14 overall against the division.  San Francisco now returns home to a venue that has been comforting this season, posting a 28-16 mark, including 19-4 in one-run games.

Giants starting pitcher Ryan Vogelsong is 6-1 with a 2.17 ERA in 16 appearances (14 starts) this season and has failed to record a decision in his last two efforts.  The right-hander has given up five runs (four earned) and 11 hits over 13 2/3 innings over that span, as the offense has plated just five runs of support.  The right-hander has tallied a brilliant 3-1 record and 1.22 ERA in eight home games, surrendering just two home runs in 51 2/3 frames.  Vogelsong has made 10 career appearances (one start) versus the Dodgers, going 0-1 with a 5.96 ERA, tossing seven innings and allowing three runs in his only start.

Bettors will likely back the Giants due to their 21-8 mark as a home favorite, while the Dodgers are 3-11 in Billingsley’s last 14 efforts as a road underdog