Dodgers visit Oracle Park to face Giants

The first place Dodgers and the last place Giants began April facing one another and will end the month doing the same.

The first meeting was in Los Angeles where the boys in blue took the series, defeating the Giants two games to one. At the time, the Dodgers’ starting rotation still included Julio Urías and Ross Stripling. The two have since been transitioned into a bullpen role, and it is likely they will make appearances against the rivals.

This time around, the three-game set will be played in San Francisco at the newly renamed Oracle Park.

Overall this season, the Giants are not doing too hot. They have just been swept by the New York Yankees, whereas the Dodgers just completed a sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Game one: Kenta Maeda (3-2, 5.20 ERA) vs. Jeff Samardzija (2-1, 4.14 ERA)

Monday, April 29 - 6:45 p.m. PDT

Kenta Maeda is getting the season opener on the hill against the Giants. Maeda is coming off of a shaky start, where the Chicago Cubs got the best of him. He allowed a four-run, 37 pitch first inning before he gave up a couple more in the 2nd. Though this wasn’t his brightest shining moment, Maeda has done decently well throughout the rest of the season.

However, Oracle Park is not where he shines the most, either. In his career at the ballpark, Maeda is 0-2 with an 8.12 ERA. Perhaps the name change will get rid of the bad juju that lingered there.

Opposite of Maeda will be Jeff Samardzija. Samardzija earned a win in his last outing, providing the Giants with 5 ¹⁄₃ innings. He held the Toronto Blue Jays to just two runs from five hits. Samardzija’s career six starts against the Dodgers, he is 1-4 with a decent 4.06 ERA.

Game two: Walker Buehler (2-0, 5.25 ERA) vs. Drew Pomeranz (1-2, 3.65 ERA)

Tuesday, April 30 - 6:45 p.m. PDT

Walker Buehler is also coming out of an O.K. start against the Cubs. He threw 5 ²⁄₃ innings, allowing three earned runs - including a home run - and striking out just one batter. The youngster has been a bit inconsistent this season, but he hopes to flip the script in San Francisco.

In Buehler’s three total starts against the Giants, he has a winning record of 1-0 and a 3.86 ERA. The one start he made at Oracle Park was the lone victory, throwing five innings and allowing two runs while delivering six strikeouts.

The Giants are sending out Drew Pomeranz to face Buehler. The 30-year-old pitched a no decision against the Dodgers in the previous series, going five innings and giving up two runs. Overall this season, Pomeranz provides the Giants with short starts (around 4-6 innings) and gives up a few runs a game. His last outing against the Blue Jays was his best yet, throwing six scoreless innings.

Game three: Hyun-Jin Ryu (3-1, 2.96 ERA) vs. Madison Bumgarner (1-4, 4.30 ERA)

Wednesday, May 1 - 6:45 p.m. PDT

Hyun-Jin Ryu gets the start to close out the series against the Giants. His previous start against the Pirates was absolutely stellar, striking out 10 batters and allowing just two earned runs in seven innings. He was credited with a win for his performance. Ryu’s last appearance against the Giants this season looked a lot like this one. He threw seven innings, giving up two runs but struck out five.

Overall, Ryu is 6-6 in his 16 starts against the Giants, boasting a 2.94 ERA against the team. He is used to victory at Oracle Park, with a 5-3 record and 3.16 ERA at the stadium.

On the other side of Ryu, the Giants are sending Madison Bumgarner to the mound. Bumgarner’s most recent start saw him struggle, allowing five earned runs in 5 ²⁄₃ innings against the Yankees. He was credited with the loss in this start. He also earned a loss in his early start against the Dodgers earlier this season. MadBum threw six innings and allowed 5 runs but none of them were earned.

Bumgarner has a lengthy career against the Dodgers, with an overall record of 15-12 and a 2.59 ERA.