It’s tough to call a series, any series, in mid-June the most important series of the season. But when you consider that the Dodgers enter this weekend’s three-game series against the hated Giants nursing a 2.5-game lead over them in the NL West standings and can conceivably come out of this weekend 5.5 games ahead of them or in second place 0.5 games behind them, it’s hard to say that it isn’t.

Oh sure, there’s still more than a half the season yet to play, but given the fact that the two teams have faced each other nine times already this season (with the Giants having won seven of them) and the fact that they will face each other only seven more time after this weekend, you begin to see just how important this mid-June series really is.

As is the case when going head-to-head with any division rival, every game is a golden opportunity for the Dodgers to pick up one full game on them in the division standings. By the same token, the same holds true for them as well. But what makes this weekend’s series all the more interesting and intense is that both teams are currently mired in slumps.

The Giants enter the series having lost six of their last 10 games while the Dodgers have lost four of their last 10. This and this alone is why the Dodgers have managed to hang on to their precarious lead over their fiercest rivals in the standings. This is also what made the Dodgers losing three of those four games by two runs or less – games that they absolutely should have won – all the more painful.

After Thursday night’s crazy balk-off win over the Texas Rangers, Dodgers soft-tossing right-hander Mike Bolsinger hopes to make it two in a row for the hometown favorites.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

When you look at the everyday lineups of the two teams, at least as everyday as Dodgers manager Don Mattingly has made them, you immediately notice that the Dodgers should have a slight edge over the Giants:

Dodgers:

• Pederson – .249
• Puig – .326
• Gonzalez – .295
• Kendrick – .283
• Grandal – .272
• Ethier – .278
• *Turner – .315
• *Callaspo – .282
• *Guerrero – .287
• Rollins – .200

Giants:

• Akoi – .315
• Panik – .309
• Pagan – .272
• Posey – .289
• Crawford – .277
• Duffy – .293
• Belt – 272
• *Maxwell – .224
• *Arias – .174
• *McGehee – .207
• Susac – .246

But in reality, you can throw the stats out the window whenever these two teams meet, as they always step up their game against one another. The good news for the Dodgers is that they do not have to face Giants ace Madison Bumgarner this series. Of course, the same can be said for the Giants, who do not have to face Clayton Kershaw or Zack Greinke this weekend either.

The Dodgers will, however, face 27-year-old Chris Heston (6-5, 3.76 ERA) who is coming off his June 9 no-hitter against the New York Mets. That said, Heston lost his last outing on June 14 in which he allowed two runs on seven hits in his five innings of work. Heston will be followed in the series by Tim Hudson (4-6, 4.65 ERA) and Tim Lincecum (7-3, 3.31 ERA).

The Dodgers will counter with Mike Bolsinger (4-1, 2.25 ERA), Carlos Frias (4-4, 4.14 ERA) and Brett Anderson (2-4, 3.43 ERA).

Missing from this series will be the childish antics of Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner, who seems to have a personal dislike for Dodgers Cuban players Yasiel Puig and Alex Guerrero. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka & SportsNet LA)

Of interest is that according to Giants manager Brice Bochy, outfielder Gregor Blanco will be activated from the disabled list prior to tonight’s game. Although Blanco is hitting .278 on the season, he is 0 for 2 this season against the Dodgers. However, when healthy, Blanco is a huge defensive upgrade over outfielder Justin Maxwell.

But here again, when these two teams square off, you can throw the stats out the window. Instead, you better sit down, strap in and hang on because it’s the Dodgers against the Giants.

Play ball!