Los Angeles at San Francisco

Matt Cain has been a hard-luck pitcher all season, but those fortunes have changed in recent times. The Giants were 3-17 in his first 20 starts, even though his ERA has been steady all season long in the 3's, and the opposition has averaged only 4.1-runs per game (RPG) in his 28 starts. The Giants exploded for 15 and nine runs in two of his starts, but otherwise have scored just 67 in his other 26 starts, or just over two runs a game. That is the lowest run support for any pitcher in baseball this season. Those fortunes have righted themselves, and the Giants have now won five of his last eight starts, including four straight at home. It is because the Giants have played much better baseball going 14-8 in their last 22, their best stretch of the season. Brad Penny and the Dodgers have met a different fate. The Dodgers were rolling along 13 games over .500, and Penny was 11-1. Things have changed. The Dodgers have been just 22-27 since. The Dodgers were 14-2 in Penny's first 16 starts. Penny allowed three runs or less in those starts, but since has allowed three or more in eight starts, and his ERA over those 12 games is 4.12 (higher than Cain). The Giants take the series.