Ready for this one? The last series didn’t matter as much, this one does. The Dodgers are 7 games back, but only 3.5 back of the Giants. If they can gain some ground this weekend, then they can at least be closer to the wild card. They need to at least hold steady until Mad Colletti can add Ted Lilly to the troop. The pitching is strong right now, but he would definitely help the back end of the rotation.

Here’s my take on the games.

Tonight, 7:15 pm Tim Lincecum vs. Carlos Monestarios

I have to again give it to the Freak.  He’s not looking totally sharp right now (on my fantasy team), but I still think he will manage the game better than Monestarios.

Saturday, 1pm Fox

Chad Billingsley vs Barry Zito

I give this one to Billingsley.  He is looking sharp right now.  Zito doesn’t look bad either, but I give Billingsley the edge.

Sunday, 5pm ESPN (Going to the game)

Clayton Kershaw vs. Matt Cain

I give this one to Kershaw.  Kershaw has been really sharp of late and he should be able to beat out “tough luck” Cain. 

As always, the bullpens will come into play, but I like the Dodgers chances this weekend.

As mentioned, I’ll be at the game at 5pm on Sunday.  They changed the time, so be aware of that.  If you want to meet up before the game, shoot me an e-mail at scott@sfdodgerfan.com.

Also, I will be in San Jose on Saturday, so if you want to meet at a restaurant to watch the game down there, again, shoot me an e-mail.

Go Blue.

Nothing like shame, defeat and embarrassment coming from your most hated enemy. Last night is one I hope the Dodgers just chalk up as a weird loss and move on.

I hope this happens because the Giants fans were sure pumped up this morning. I didn’t get a lot of comments at work (I was expecting them), but the talk shows this morning were all about how this was Bruce Bochy’s best game and how this win may change the rest of the season. Wishful thinking can be a horrible thing…

Not sure where to start on this one. My predictions still ring true that the Giants would win the first two…but I wasn’t very accurate on how it came about.

Timmy Lincecum got beat up. Andre Ethier is hot and everything seemed fine. Then, there were some beanings and suddenly Clayton Kershaw and Joe Torre are heading home early.  The talk shows thought Joe Torre was stupid to have Clayton Kershaw bean him, rather than some reliever who wouldn’t matter being tossed.  Could be true, but it does say something that Kershaw stood up for the team.

Then the 9th.  Welcome to management Don Mattingly.  A lot of managers start 0-1, so hopefully you can rebound from this one.  If you didn’t see it Mattingly accidentally stepped on the mound twice while out between the lines, and therefore Jonathan Broxton had to leave.

He had to leave for George Sherrill.  That was Mattingly’s second mistake.  I just wrote yesterday that hopefully it wouldn’t come down to Mr. Sherrill.  He just doesn’t have it right now and definitely shouldn’t be the guy with the game on the line, no matter if the batter is right or left handed.

Sherrill gives up the hit and the Giants walk away with a come from behind victory that they can build on. 

This is one game, but the Dodgers better snap out of this.  Regardless of tonight, they aren’t looking good.  The bullpen is weak and they can’t beat the teams they need to.  I hate to say it, but I don’t see this team (the way they are currently playing right now) making the playoffs.  They may beat out the Giants, but the Padres and Rockies should claim the top two spots.  I”m sure Mad Colletti is working on stuff because he knows the train needs some maintenance.

Tonight Billingsley.  Time to show that last night can be quickly forgotten.  Here’s hoping.

If you read my last post, you know I predicted that the Dodgers would lose last night. Madison Bumgarner just seemed better and proved it last night. The Dodgers had two chances to change it near the end, but they couldn’t come through.

I was hoping Mr. Clutch Andre Ethier would hit a grand slam…but alas, I guess that only works in the bottom of the ninth for him.

Also, again in the ninth, I knew that unless Andre Ethier hit a homerun to tie it, that Casey Blake probably wasn’t going to get it done. I like Casey a lot, but he is way streaky and he definitely isn’t in a streak right now.  Andre Ethier walked, Casey Blake struck out and the game was over.

The one bright spot I noticed last night was Matt Kemp. I have a hunch he is going to turn things around and the fact that he had 3 singles really said something. Similarly on the Giants side, Pablo Sandoval finally seems to have found his swing back. Both of those players should be fun to watch for the next 2 games.

Tonight Tim Lincecum versus Clayton Kershaw.  I’m not holding my breath for the Dodgers, but it should be a good pitchers match up.  It will most likely come down to the bullpen, so here’s hoping it doesn’t come down to George Sherrill.  I found it ironic for him that he battled at the end and got the out, but he still gave up an early walk that came around to score.  If he does pull this season out, give full credit to Joe Torre to sticking with him.  He definitely has been a different guy than last year.

Anybody seen Manny lately?  Yeah, me neither.  I wondered if he would put something together this summer since this is a contract year for him…but injuries just keep getting him.  The Dodgers definitely have lost money on him at this point.

Go Blue.

Thank the Lord for the Giants. I’m hoping this series works out like the last ones because that St. Louis series was ugly. Don’t get me started on how the Dodgers will do in the post season if they can’t win one game on the road against the Cardinals. The bullpen is really hurting right now.

Here are my picks for the next three games. It could be really good or really bad for both teams as both have been on the skids of late.

James McDonald vs Madison Bumgarner

I give this one to the new Giants rookie.  McDonald is fresh out of the shoots and I don’t know if he will have it yet.

Clayton Kershaw vs. Tim Lincecum

I have to give this one to Lincecum.  He’s too hot again.  Kershaw should bounce back fine, but I don’t know that he can get the win.

Chad Billingsley vs. Barry Zito

I give this one to Billingsley.  He’s due for a win here and I’m not as confident in Zito any more.

I give these predictions, but especially in the first two games, it could come down to the bullpen.  Broxton has been shaky of late as a middle reliever, so he could go back to the old Broxton of not being able to beat the Giants.  If he can only work 3 batters, he may be all right.

Tonight’s game is on the network channels, so it should be a good time.  Go Dodgers.