ZITO'S STREAKING

Barry Zito won the Cy Young award in 2002 with the Oakland Athletics, but he is no longer a dominating pitcher and has a mediocre 10-8 record with a 4.51 ERA this season. The Giants have won his past six starts although he has just factored in the decision twice during that stretch. Zito has allowed four runs or more in three of his last five outings. He has gone 5 1/3 innings or less in four of his last five starts and only has one decision during that span, even though San Francisco has won all five games as a team.

Zito has already faced the Dodgers three times this season, allowing seven runs and 18 hits in 18 1/3 innings for a 3.44 ERA and 1.42 WHIP. He pitched well in his first two starts against the Dodgers, allowing just 3 runs in 13 innings, but then he struggled on July 28th when he allowed 4 runs and 7 hits in just 5 1/3 innings.

ACE'S WILD

Clayton Kershaw has been perhaps the most consistent pitcher in the league the past few seasons and he is the defending Cy Young winner in the National League. He is having another strong season with a 12-8 record and an excellent 2.79 ERA with 201 strikeouts. The southpaw has allowed five runs and 17 hits in his last three starts with 26 strikeouts.

Kershaw will be facing the Giants for the fifth time this season and he has pitched great in each previous start. He has allowed two runs or less in all four outings versus San Francisco this season with at least 7 strikeouts or more each time. Overall, Kershaw has allowed just 6 runs in 31 innings versus the Giants this season for a 1.74 ERA and 0.90 WHIP and a powerful 32/4 strikeout/walk ratio. Despite these excellent numbers, the Dodgers have still gone just 1-3 straight-up in those four games. The reason has been terrible run support for Kershaw as Los Angeles has scored one run or less in each loss.

INJURY REPORT

The Dodgers have been bitten by the injury bug. They also traded for Carl Crawford who had undergone Tommy John surgery and is out for the rest of the season. Joining him on the disabled list is Kenley Jansen who is dealing with a heart ailment and Chad Billingsley who is having elbow pain. Dee Gordon is on the DL with a thumb problem, while Ted Lilly is done with shoulder inflammation.

The Giants are missing closer Brian Wilson who is also undergoing Tommy John surgery. Joining him from the bullpen is Clay Hensley. We also must mention Melky Cabrera who has been suspended and will be out the rest of the regular season and the first five games of the postseason, if the Dodgers make it.

TRENDS

Dodgers are 19-7 in Kershaw's last 26 Sunday starts Dodgers are 7-3 in their last 10 during game 3 of a series Giants are 8-17 in their last 25 during game 3 of a series Giants are 8-2 in Zito's last 10 starts with 5 days rest

HITTERS TO WATCH

Hunter Pence is 1-for-21 vs. Kershaw Buster Posey is 6-for-31 vs. Kershaw Adrian Gonzalez is 13-for-41 vs. Zito Matt Kemp is 24-for-52 vs. Zito

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