7/26 Gamethread: Giants at Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers have outscored the San Francisco Giants 21-7 through three games. That’s a 14-run differential over just a trio of contests. That’s three runs the Dodgers have scored for every one the Giants have.

And yet all the Giants have to do today is eke out a one-run win — 1-0, 2-1, 15-14, whatever — and they leave LA having earned a four-game draw, on the road, against arguably the top team in baseball.

That would be cool.

Game #4

Who: San Francisco Giants (1-2) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (2-1)
Where: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California
When: 7:08 p.m. PT
Regional broadcast: None
National broadcast: ESPN
Radio: KNBR 680 AM/104.5 FM

Lineups

Drew Smyly takes the mound for the second time this season, and for his first start. Still no sign of Jeff Samardzija.

A day after getting his first win with the Giants, Gabe Kapler is making a few tweaks despite facing another lefty.

1. LF — Mike Yastrzemski (L) — .272/.334/.518, 121 wRC+ (4-11, 2B)
2. 2B — Wilmer Flores (R) — .317/.361/.487, 120 wRC+ (4-12, HR)
3. 1B — Darin Ruf (R) — N/A (1-4)
4. DH — Hunter Pence (R) — .297/.358/.552, 128 wRC+ (0-7)
5. 3B — Donovan Solano (R) — .330/.360/.456, 116 wRC+ (1-6, 2B)
6. C — Tyler Heineman (S) — .273/.273/.636 (12 PAs) (3-6)
7. RF — Jaylin Davis (S) — .167/.255/.238, 39 wRC+ (47 PAs) (2-7, HR)
8. SS — Brandon Crawford (L) — .228/.304/.350, 74 wRC+ (1-6)
9. CF — Mauricio Dubón (R) — .274/.306/.434, 95 wRC+ (0-10)
   LHP — Drew Smyly — 4.45 ERA, 4.79 FIP, 68 Ks and 21 BBs in 62.2 IP (1 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 2 K, 0 ER)

For the fourth time this series, Dave Roberts is using a lineup that is terrifying.

1. RF — Mookie Betts (R) — .295/.391/.524, 135 wRC+ (2-16)
2. 1B — Max Muncy (L) — .251/..374/.515, 134 wRC+ (4-11, 2 2B, 2 HR)
3. 3B — Justin Turner (R) — .290/.372/.509, 132 wRC+ (5-12, 4 2B)
4. CF — Cody Bellinger (L) — .305/.406/.629, 162 wRC+ (2-13, 2B)
5. LF — Chris Taylor (R) — .262/.333/.462, 107 wRC+ (4-8)
6. SS — Corey Seager (L) — .272/.335/.483, 113 wRC+ (5-13, 2 2B)
7. 2B — Kiké Hernández (R) — .237/.304/.411, 88 wRC+ (5-14, HR)
8. DH — A.J. Pollock (R) — .266/.327/.468, 108 wRC+ (1-2)
9. C — Will Smith (R) — .253/.337/.571, 132 wRC+ (1-3, HR)
   LHP — Julio Urías — 2.49 ERA, 3.43 FIP, 85 Ks and 27 BBs in 79.2 IP

Notes

Slater out: You can expect Austin Slater to start most times that a left-handed pitcher is on the mound, at least in the early going. But a day after working three walks in his first game of the year, Slater is out of the lineup due to a sore hip. He had a nasty collision with the wall while catching a Corey Seager fly ball on Saturday, and it’s unclear if he’s available off the bench.

Black Lives Matter: Still and always.

Enjoy the baseball. Beat LA.