Already in the midst of a slow start to the season, Tim Lincecum probably isn’t thrilled to see the Los Angeles Dodgers Wednesday night. The veteran right hander tries to get back on track tonight against a division rival that has a track record of snacking on him in the past.
Dodgers’ center fielder Matt Kemp is batting .396 with four homers and 11 RBI over his last 20 against the Giants, all of those home runs coming at home. He’s been just as good against Lincecum, going 7 for 14 against him last year.
Kemp has been marvelous in the series so far after returning from a hammy strain, collecting four hits in the first two games, three of those in the opener on Monday. He got a hit and intentional walk in Los Angeles’ 2-1 loss on Tuesday. He’s been the most vital component in the lineup this year, hitting .404 overall with 12 home runs and 27 RBI, pacing the Dodgers with the St. Louis Cardinals for best record in the NL.
Kemp has already found tightness in his muscles this month, and manager Don Mattingly is pacing him for the season.
“I’m just making sure we’re smart, because it’s better not to have him one day or two days compared to 15 or 20 days,” Mattingly told the team’s website. “The DL screws you up. You’re out two weeks, that doesn’t mean you come back where you left off. You take 10 days, it’s a mystery with what you’re going to get when he comes back.”
He seems just fine at the moment, a scary thing for Lincecum. He’s been sloppy so far, especially in the first inning where opponents are hitting .370. Over half of his runs surrendered have come in the opening frame, including three in his last start to the Milwaukee Brewers.
“I’m happy with the way I was able to come out of it, but giving up three at the beginning of the game in the first inning, that’s no way to put your team in a position to win,” he told the team’s website. “I definitely take a lot of responsibility for this game, as I should.
“As starters we’re supposed to go deep into games and I really haven’t with the exception of one game.”
Even when he’s been good, Lincecum hasn’t had much success against the Dodgers. Last year, his ERA against them was 1.83, yet a lack of run support left him 0-3.
What’s worse is his counterpart, Los Angeles’ Chad Billingsley is a career 5-2 at home against San Francisco, with an ERA of 1.73.
The Dodgers are favored by 1 1/2 runs, according to Bovada’s Giants vs. Dodgers Betting Lines, with a -121 moneyline.