Scott Kazmir, Dodgers offense try to build momentum vs. Giants

The Dodgers will try for a second straight win over the Giants on Saturday night, relying on an improved Scott Kazmir and ideally some continued road production from the offense.

LA was held to three runs on Friday night, but that was in a tremendous pitching duel between Clayton Kershaw and Johnny Cueto, and they got a huge home run from Justin Turner in the ninth to win the game.

On the season, the Dodgers are hitting .244/.315/.379 on the road, which may not sound like much until you notice they are hitting .217/.296/.366 at home. Entering Saturday the Dodgers have played 31 games at home and 31 on the road. Away from home they have scored 38 more runs than at Dodger Stadium, averaging 4.80 runs per game in the road grays compared to 3.58 in LA.

Kazmir only lasted four innings in each of his two starts against the Giants this season, back-to-back outings on April 10 and April 16, allowing 10 total runs on 14 hits and five walks in those starts, with seven strikeouts.

But the left-hander has been solid for the better part of six weeks, outside of a seven-walk start on May 20 in San Diego that he called "unacceptable." In his last eight starts he has a 3.62 ERA, with 57 strikeouts and 18 walks in 49⅔ innings.

Since that seven-walk start, Kazmir has 24 strikeouts and just four walks in 17 innings.

Jeff Samardzija had a stretch that saw him last at least 7⅔ innings in six of eight starts, though in his last two starts he has taken a step back, allowing 11 runs on 15 hits in just 10 innings.

Game info

Time: 4:15 p.m. PT

TV: Fox