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LOS ANGELES -- Despite having a starting rotation that continues to be ravaged by injuries, the National League West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers remain a confident bunch heading into a three-game showdown beginning Tuesday with the second-place San Francisco Giants.Were looking forward to it, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.Adrian Gonzalez launched three of the Dodgers seven home runs and had a career-high eight RBI in Mondays 18-9 romp against the Reds in Cincinnati. However, the injury bug struck again as neck and back problems plagued starter Scott Kazmir, who couldnt make it out of the third inning and allowed four runs on six hits with three walks and a strikeout.Kazmir is expected to undergo an MRI in Los Angeles on Tuesday.Kazmir is the latest in a string of casualties that have hurt the clubs starters for much of the season. Ace Clayton Kershaw (herniated disk), who is scheduled to throw another bullpen session Tuesday and could return in September, Brandon McCarthy (right hip soreness) and Rich Hill (blisters on pitching finger) remain on the disabled list.However, Hill, who has yet to make his Dodgers debut since being acquired from the Oakland Athletics at the trading deadline, and Brett Anderson are penciled in to start against the Giants on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. Anderson, who returned Aug. 14 from herniated disk surgery against the Pittsburgh Pirates, served up five runs and lasted just one inning before departing with a wrist injury. Anderson also had his last start Saturday cut short by a blister on his left index finger Saturday at Cincinnati.Another starter, Bud Norris, has been in and out of the rotation with injuries, while Hyun-Jin Ryu (left shoulder surgery) has yet to pitch this season.Still, despite all those painful scenarios, they havent short-circuited the Dodgers (69-55) battling the Giants for the division lead.The Giants (68-56), who were off Monday and trail the Dodgers by a game after a four-game split with the New York Mets over the weekend, have stumbled to an 11-23 record since the All-Star break.I do think were playing better ball, manager Bruce Bochy said, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The guys are swinging it pretty good. Some games weve scored some runs and the pitching has not been quite as sharp.Giants All-Star Madison Bumgarner (12-7, 2.25 ERA) will oppose the Dodgers Kenta Maeda (12-7, 3.29 ERA) in the opener.Bumgarner is 0-1 with a 4.09 ERA in two starts against the Dodgers this season. In his last start Thursday against the Mets, Bumgarner gave up four runs on six hits in five innings but claimed the decision in a 10-7 win. He also homered.The Giants have claimed six of the 10 meetings against the Dodgers.Maeda last pitched Aug. 16 at Philadelphia, fanning nine, walking one and holding the Phillies to two runs on three hits in six innings. Maeda is 4-0 with a 3.45 ERA since July 23.He beat the Giants in his only start against them on April 17, limiting San Francisco to a run on four hits in seven innings with seven strikeouts and a walk in a 3-1 decision. Cameron Erving Jersey . -- Bobby Ryan helped the U. Bashaud Breeland Jersey .J. -- Marshawn Lynch said Thursday it will be good to get back to football after the Seattle quiet talking running back wrapped up his final mandatory media session of Super Bowl week. http://www.prochiefsauthentic.com/Youth-Reggie-Ragland-Elite-Jersey/ . - Derek Wolfe says hes finally healthy after suffering a seizure in November that doctors now believe was related to the spinal cord injury he suffered in the preseason. Darwin Thompson Jersey . It might not have mattered. While the Dodgers are preparing for the playoffs, the Padres showed their future has promise behind two rookies. Damien Williams Jersey .Y. - General manager Billy King says the Brooklyn Nets are looking to add a big man and confirmed the team worked out centre Jason Collins, who would become the first openly gay active NBA player if signed. TORONTO -- Team Sweden found out an hour before their game with Russia that they would be without their star goalie Henrik Lundqvist. During Swedens World Cup opener, Daniel Sedin told ESPNs Leah Hextall that news of their goalies illness circulated just before a game that would go a long way in determining which of these world hockey powers might advance from a stacked Group B.If theres a favorite in the group, its the Swedes. The only weakness, we all believed, was goaltending depth after Lundqvist.Not an issue if Lundqvist plays as expected. Definitely an issue if he doesnt even show up.And yet, there was backup goalie Jacob Markstrom, all 6-foot-6 of him, wiping out concerns that Lundqvists surprise absence created, making 27 saves in Swedens 2-1 win over Russia. The only player to beat him was Alex Ovechkin, who nearly did it twice in the final 33 seconds of the game, only to have an apparent game-tying goal disallowed because it was gloved in.In beating the Russians, the one perceived weakness Sweden might have had was alleviated. Team Canada laid down the gauntlet that they were the favorites by steamrolling the Czech Republic on Saturday, but this win by the 2014 Olympic silver-medalists might have been more impressive considering the circumstances.Sweden didnt have their star goalie against the powerful Russians. It didnt matter.They withstood an early push from a Russian team that clearly sensed an opportunity, with physical play that featured two monster hits from Ovechkin -- one on Niklas Hjalmarsson and the other on Victor Hedman.But there was no rattling the Swedes, who kept steady pressure on Russian goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, then didnt miss when the best opportunities presented themselves.Gabriel Landeskog scored on a one-timer four minutes into a power play and Hedman followed with his own one-timer, drriving down the middle of the ice and absolutely connecting on a nice backhand feed from Carl Hagelin.ddddddddddddMarkstrom played well when tested, including a nice save on a Nikolay Kulemin one-timer in the second period, but it was the play in front of him that was more impressive.Sweden limited the Russians scoring chances, doing a great job occupying offensive-zone time with the Sedins leading the way with a cycle that needs its own wing in the Hall of Fame.The Russians missed an opportunity, to be sure. They had the best team in their group playing without their most important player, and they still couldnt capitalize despite Ovechkins near heroics at the end. There usually isnt enough time in a short tournament like this to recover.As for the Swedes, perhaps they rely less on Lundqvist than originally believed. If so, thats a major problem for the rest of the World Cup field.Three Stars1. Victor Hedman, D, Sweden: Bobrovsky was sharp in goal for Russia, but its no easy task turning aside a one-timer from Hedman when hes driving down the middle of the ice. Hedman was a key part of Swedens defensive play as well, helping shut down a powerful Russian attack, leading all Swedes in ice time.2. Jacob Markstrom, G, Sweden: He wasnt severely tested but made the saves when he had to while answering the call after being put in a tough spot. He played an economical game, letting his big frame do the heavy lifting, showed strong poise and looked good handling the puck.3. Gabriel Landeskog, LW, Sweden: Landeskogs missile opened the scoring against the Russians, and the early action has proven how crucial scoring the first goal has been: The team scoring first is undefeated so far in the World Cup. ' ' '