San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Dodgers: Mapping a potential, albeit improbable, path to winning the NL West

Jul 26, 2015; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Duffy (5) and catcher Buster Posey (28) high five team mates after defeating the Oakland Athletics 4-3 at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Giants @ Padres & A’s (6 games) | Dodgers vs. D-Backs & @ Rockies (7 games)

Simply put, the Giants need to run the table—or at least win five out of six—this week if they hope to contend for the divisional crown. On the road versus the Padres (who they’ve won five straight over) and A’s (who they swept earlier this season), they could feasibly accomplish this feat.

The Dodgers, coming off their first series loss in nearly a month to the Pirates, would have to drop two more against a pair of teams they’ve done pretty well against in 2015 (31-23 combined W-L record). It’s highly unlikely L.A. loses with both Kershaw and Greinke getting a start, so pencil in one win between their games and a 1-4 tailspin with neither on the hill.

One of those five needed losses came on Monday, with the Dodgers dropping Game 1 of their D-Backs series, 8-4.

 Giants @ Padres & A’s: 5-1 (83-72) | Dodgers vs. D-backs & @ Rockies: 2-5 (87-68)

NL West: Giants 4GB

Next: Phase 2