Dodgers Look to Keep Boot on Giants' Throat in Crucial September Clash

The Dodgers roll into Oracle Park riding momentum from their 3-1 victory over these same Giants just five days ago, and September baseball doesn't get much spicier than this rivalry with playoff positioning on the line. Los Angeles proved they've got San Francisco's number in that last meeting, controlling the tempo and manufacturing just enough offense to send the home crowd shuffling out early.

The Giants are running out of rope here. Dropping another game to their bitter rivals at home would be catastrophic for their postseason hopes, but the Dodgers smell blood in the water. LA's pitching staff has been stingy lately, and if they can replicate that 1-run performance from September 20th, the Giants' bats will need to wake up in a hurry.

San Francisco desperately needs their home crowd to provide a spark, but Oracle Park hasn't exactly been a fortress lately. The Dodgers, meanwhile, are playing with the confidence of a team that knows it owns this matchup right now. They've figured something out about the Giants' approach, and until SF proves otherwise, LA should feel comfortable coming in here and taking care of business again.

This one's got all the ingredients for another Dodger statement game. The Giants better show up swinging.