Dodgers aren’t the only ones who haven’t hit lefties

LOS ANGELES — If there is one thing the Dodgers and Giants can commiserate about in 2017, it is their performance against left-handed pitchers.

Much has been made of the Dodgers’ struggles against southpaws, which has carried over since ranking at the bottom in offensive categories across the board in 2016. But this year the Giants have been even worse against lefties.

Through Sunday, the Dodgers are hitting .221/.304/.344 against lefties, ranking 24th in the majors in OPS, 25th in wOBA (.287), and 25th in wRC+ (77).

The Giants are at .215/.280/.318 against lefties, 28th in MLB in OPS, 28th in wOBA (.265), and 26th in WRC+ (65).

To make matters worse for both teams, the Giants (415) and Dodgers (376) rank first and second, respectively, in plate appearances against lefties in 2017, with a 22-plate-appearance gap between second and third place.

The Dodgers are 5-7 against lefty starters this season, same as the Giants.

This could mean an advantage for the Dodgers in this series, sending left-handers Clayton Kershaw, Alex Wood, and Julio Urias to the mound in this series, after peppering the Giants with four lefties last week in San Francisco. That trio allowed two total runs in 18 innings at AT&T Park.

The Giants will send just one left-hander against the Dodgers during this series, with Matt Moore starting on Tuesday night. The Dodgers could get a rehabbing Franklin Gutierrez back from the disabled list to help by then, depending on how he comes out of his games with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga.

Game info

Time: 7:10 p.m. PT

TV: SportsNet LA, MLB Network