Dodgers & Giants play first doubleheader against each other in 15 years

The Dodgers and Giants are playing a doubleheader for the first time in 15 seasons on Saturday, with split day-night affairs at AT&T Park in San Francisco.

This is the first doubleheader between the Dodgers and Giants since Sept. 27, 2003. That was on the penultimate day of the regular season, with San Francisco headed back to the playoffs and the unique Los Angeles squad playing out the string.

Those Dodgers won 85 games but in one of the oddest ways imaginable. When they wore gloves and were on the field, the 2003 Dodgers were one of the greatest teams of all-time, posting a 128 ERA+. But in the batters box they were inept, one of the worst teams ever, with a 79 OPS+.

Edwin Jackson, then just 20 and making his fourth major league start, won the opener with six scoreless innings. He allowed just two hits and struck out seven in the win, and also walked eight and hit a batter. He stranded them all, thanks in part to two double plays but also ended each of his six innings with a strikeout, including twice with the bases loaded and twice more with runner(s) in scoring position.

Current Dodgers manager Dave Roberts started the opener in left field for the Dodgers and pinch hit in the second game. He was 0-for-6 on the day.

Today

Back to the present, the Dodgers will turn to Walker Buehler to make his second start this week, back from a brief sojourn to Class-A Rancho Cucamonga in between. He did actually make it to Rancho, at least for one day on Thursday to get a bullpen session in in preparation for Saturday’s start.

Buehler, who pitched five scoreless innings Monday in his first major league start, is the 26th man on Saturday, available for one day because of the doubleheader.

The Giants called up relief pitcher Derek Law as their 26th man for the twinbill, and reinstated Chris Stratton from the paternity list to start opposite Buehler in the opener. San Francisco optioned outfielder Austin Slater to Triple-A after calling him up for Friday’s series opener. Slate struck out as a pinch hitter in the fifth inning on Friday.

Games info

Times: Game 1, 1:05 p.m. PT; Game 2, 7:05 p.m.

TV: SportsNet LA (both games), KTLA (Game 2)