On opening day, Clayton Kershaw had his way with the Giants, pitching seven scoreless innings. The Dodgers hope for more of the same on Monday night as they open a three-game series at AT&T Park in San Francisco. The Dodgers are 2-3 on their eight-game road trip, and are coming off a series win at Petco Park in San Diego. Madison Bumgarner gets the start for the Giants in the series opener.
Kershaw has owned the Giants in his career. He has quality starts in each of his six starts against San Francisco, and has given up a total of six earned runs in six starts against them. Kershaw is 2-1 with a 1.26 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 43 innings in his career against the Giants, and the Dodgers have won four of those six games. Kershaw got his first career shutout against the Giants last September, and has a personal 17-inning scoreless streak against the Giants.
With the southpaw Bumgarner pitching tonight, Marcus Thames is expected to start in left field for the Dodgers tonight. Fifth starter Jon Garland allowed three runs in 4 2/3 innings in a rehab start on Sunday with Class A Rancho Cucamonga, and could be ready to rejoin the Dodgers as soon as Friday. Juan Uribe, who is off to a 3-for-27 start with the Dodgers, will receive his championship ring from the Giants during this series. Uribe hit two home runs and had nine RBI in the 2010 postseason with San Francisco.
Tonight's 7:15 p.m. PDT game will be televised by KCAL.
For more news and information on the Dodgers, or tonight's game, be sure to read the SB Nation blog True Blue LA.