LOS ANGELES DODGERS (32-29)

at SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (36-25)

First pitch: Friday, 10:15 p.m. ET
Line: Los Angeles -160, San Francisco +150, Total: 5.5

Two of the National League’s best pitchers will be facing off when Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers go to San Francisco to face Johnny Cueto and the Giants.

The Dodgers are coming into the series winning four of the last six games and are looking to make up ground in the division, only being four games behind their opponent tonight in the NL West. Los Angeles is coming off a loss where they were shutout and held to four hits versus the Rockies. The Giants, meanwhile, are starting to slide at the top of the division, losing three of the last four games. They are coming off a game where they beat the Red Sox 2-1 to split their two-game series. The Dodgers and Giants have faced off against each other seven times this season where the Dodgers are winning the matchup 4-3. The Giants, however, have got the best of L.A. over the past three years at home, going 14-9 at AT&T Park. Tonight will be one of the marquee pitching matchups of the year, as San Francisco throws RHP Johnny Cueto (9-1, 2.16 ERA, 73 K) on the mound versus Los Angeles’ LHP Clayton Kershaw (8-1, 1.46 ERA, 109 K). It’s worth noting that throughout the season when these pitchers have been on the mound their games have gone 16-7 in favor of the UNDER, not surprising since these two pitchers have been amongst the top starters in the league all year.

In order for the Dodgers to win they need Kershaw to be just as dominate as he’s been all year. He is leading the entire league in ERA and is tied for second in wins with nine. He has been so good all year that the Dodgers have only lost one game where he made a start. The most impressive aspect of Kershaw’s year was his incredible month of May, where he went 5-0 with three complete-game shutouts. Kershaw has thrown two games against the Giants where he recorded one win, but the Dodgers were still able to win both games. He has also pitched great in his career at AT&T Park going 9-3 with a 1.23 ERA. The Dodgers are getting a breakout year from their 22-year-old SS Corey Seager (.283, 14 HR, 35 RBI). He has been on a tear over the last seven days, hitting .389 with five homers and seven RBI. He’s leading the team in BA, homers, RBI, and hits (66). It will also be interesting to see how manger Dave Roberts uses C Yasmani Grandal (.195, 5 HR, 19 RBI) tonight, as he is hitting .375 against Cueto in his career.

Even though Johnny Cueto is not the Giants’ official number one starter, he has been pitching like an ace all season. He has nine wins on the year and that ties him for the most in the MLB. He couldn’t be hotter when he starts at home, not allowing a single run in his past three starts at AT&T Park. San Francisco has supported Cueto with the bats as well, only losing one game where he made the start all year. In his last game, he faced St. Louis and pitched six innings of one-run ball to pick up another win. In his two starts against the Dodgers, he won both games allowing a combined seven runs. Kershaw has dominated the Giants’ players in their careers, as they are hitting a combined .165 versus Los Angeles’ ace at the plate. They will be happy that C Buster Posey (.257, 8 HR, 26 RBI) is expected to be back in the lineup after taking a week off to heal a thumb injury. San Francisco will also be looking to their best hitter RF Hunter Pence (.298, 7 HR, 36 RBI) to have a big game. He has, however, struggled against Kershaw in his career, hitting a lousy .098 versus the lefty.