Giants @ Dodgers April 17, 2016: Kenta Maeda’s first look at the Giants

The rubber game of this 3-game series is on ESPN for everyone to enjoy (even those of you in the greater Los Angeles area). Jeff Samardzija takes on Kenta Maeda.

	Giants			Dodgers
	5:05 p.m. PT			Los Angeles
CF	Span		2B	Utley
2B	Panik		SS	Seager
C	Posey		3B	Turner
RF	Pence		1B	Gonzalez
1B	Belt		RF	Puig
3B	Duffy		C	Grandal
SS	Crawford		LF	Kendrick
P	Samardzija (R)		CF	Pederson
LF	Pagan		P	Maeda (R)

This is Maeda’s first look at the Giants in his still-brief MLB career, and so far, he has been as good (or even a bit better) as advertised. He has gone six innings in both of his starts and has allowed no runs. He also owns an 8:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a 2.30 FIP. It’s extremely early, but this is encouraging. He’ll face his toughest test to date against the contact-happy Giants.

Howie Kendrick is back in left field. This is going to be a regular thing until either he or Chase Utley begin to struggle. Yasmani Grandal is catching back-to-back games for the first time this season and will catch at least the first game of the Atlanta series on Tuesday.

And some news about players on the mend…

Scott Van Slyke has been doing core work, but no baseball activities. Not expected to be activated on Apr. 25. Will stay in LA on road trip

— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) April 17, 2016

This is contrary to the previous belief that Scott Van Slyke be ready to come off the disabled list in 15 days. Here’s hoping he gets healthy and back with the Dodgers soon.

Carlos Frias (oblique) isn't throwing, Mike Bolsinger (oblique) is throwing at 90 feet, and Brandon Beachy (elbow) is "laying low."

— Matthew Moreno (@Matthew__Moreno) April 17, 2016

The Carlos Frias news isn’t surprising, seeing as Mike Bolsinger suffered the same injury. They’re basically on the same timeline, just a couple weeks off-set. And who knows about Brandon Beachy and his elbow.

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