Shane Victorino, Hunter Pence Reunite In Dodgers, Giants Opener

As the Dodgers welcome the Giants to town for a critical three-game series, two key players might in the National League West showdown might just be a pair of outfielders who began the season with the Phillies. Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence were both traded on July 31, and three weeks later they reuinite for a three-game series at Dodger Stadium.

Pence hit .271/.336/.447 with a .339 wOBA with the Phillies this season, compared to .261/.324/.401 and a .324 wOBA for Victorino. Since the trade both have struggled a bit, though it's still early.

Pence hasn't done much with the Giants, though he has driven in 15 runs in 18 games, including a go-ahead three-run home run in the eighth inning to beat Colorado on August 12. Victorino had a nine-game hitting streak with the Dodgers, but that was sandwiched by stretches of 2-for-17 and 2-for-16.

Tonight's Pitching Matchup

Clayton Kershaw has continued his mastery of the Giants this season. He has a 1.57 ERA in three starts, though he has lost twice, and in his career he is 7-3 with a 1.32 ERA in 15 games against San Francisco in his career. Kershaw shutout the Giants to finish off a sweep at AT&T Park on July 29.

Kershaw's mound opponent in his first three starts against the Giants was Ryan Vogelsong, but Monday night Madison Bumgarner starts for San Francisco. The Dodgers have managed to avoid Bumgarner in each of their three series against the Giants this season, which is probably a good thing.

Bumgarner has 17 quality starts this season, including in each of his last seven starts with a 2.25 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 48 innings during that span. Bumgarner has pitched at least six innings in 22 of his 24 starts this season, and on the year is averaging just about the same innings per start (6.819, sixth in the NL) as Kershaw (6.827, fifth).

Game Time: 7:10 p.m.

TV: Prime Ticket, ESPN2

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