Dodgers go into SF and blow the math exam

Time is running out for the Dodgers to win their division. They went to San Francisco Friday with a chance to cut deeply into the Giants' 4½-game lead over LA in the west this weekend. Instead, the Dodgers leave town tonight trailing the Giants by 5½ games. The Dodgers have just 21 games left to make up that ground, and the only good thing about that is that the final three are against the Giants at Dodger Stadium. So if they go into that last series within three games of the top spot, they could force their way into first place with a sweep.

The 4-0 loss wasn't even the worst news Sunday. Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw couldn't make his scheduled start due to a hip problem. They say he will go now on Tuesday in Arizona, but if he can't and misses any time this month, the Dodgers are left pretty thin in pitching. On Sunday they were thin on hitting and fielding, with Andre Ethier not exactly shining when the balls were hit his way in right field. Leading hitter Matt Kemp missed another game due to injury.

After Sunday's games, the Dodgers have a better chance to make it into the playoffs as a wildcard team. They are 1½ games out in that race, with the two teams ahead of them Atlanta and St. Louis. This season, for the first time, the two wildcard teams meet in a one-game playoff to decide which team goes into the divisional series playoffs. So even as a wildcard team, the Dodgers may got into a playoff series.