Game 147: Pirates at Dodgers

Probables: Jeff Locke (8-10, 4.43) vs. Zack Greinke (17-3, 1.61)
Preview:
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/201509...game_pk=415855
"Greinke set to face potential playoff-foe Pirates
By Steve Bourbon / MLB.com | + 6 COMMENTS
Two teams jockeying for playoff positioning will meet up in Los Angeles on Friday as the Dodgers and Pirates play the first of three games in a weekend series.
The Dodgers have a 7 1/2-game lead over the Giants in the National League West and their magic number is 10. In addition, the Dodgers maintain a 1 1/2-game lead over the New York Mets for home-field advantage in a potential NL Division Series matchup.
Pittsburgh is ahead of Chicago by two games for home-field advantage in the NL Wild Card Game presented by Budweiser. After dropping three of four games against the Cubs this week at PNC Park, the Pirates' NL Central deficit expanded to five games.
Dodgers righty Zack Greinke continues his NL Cy Young Award push and is coming off another dominant effort on Sunday. Greinke threw eight shutout innings against the D-backs and has earned a win in four straight starts and seven of his last eight.
Pirates lefty Jeff Locke (8-10, 4.43 ERA) struck out seven in 6 1/3 innings in his last start, a win over the Brewers. Locke is looking for more length from his starts, as he's made it through the sixth inning in one of his last 10 outings.
Three things to know about this game
• The Pirates will be without rookie infielder Jung Ho Kang, who suffered an injury to his left knee in the first inning of the Pirates' 9-6 loss to the Cubs on Thursday, for the next six to eight months after he underwent surgery. Kang had been one of the Pirates' most valuable players this season, but the Bucs have plenty of depth on the left side of their infield -- namely Aramis Ramirez, Josh Harrison and Jordy Mercer -- to get by while Kang is sidelined.
• The Dodgers aren't very familiar with Locke, as only two players have more than 10 plate appearances against the 27-year-old. Current Dodgers are hitting .163 lifetime against Locke, and only Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford have more than one hit.
• When Greinke receives three or more runs of support from his offense, he's 13-0 on the season.
Steve Bourbon is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs."