San Francisco Giants

In pursuit of a fourth World Series title in seven years, the Giants understand that beating the Dodgers and winning the NL West is where to start.

Yes, the 2014 Giants parlayed a wild-card berth into the World Series trophy — but it took beating the Pittsburgh Pirates in the one-game wild-card playoff to reach the division series. In 2010 and 2012, finishing first in the NL West led to World Series celebrations.

“There’s going to be a lot of intrigue with us and the Dodgers going back and forth, week to week, with whatever time we’ve got left here,” the Giants’ top baseball executive, Brian Sa

bean, told The San Jose Mercury News.

With the Cubs pacing toward 100-plus victories, the NL West champion, whichever team it is, will not be a playoff favorite.

“I’m not watching the Cubs anymore,” Sabean said jokingly. “It’s too easy. ... You watch the games, and whether they’re at home or on the road, there’s so many ways they can beat you. They’ve got that looseness. They’ve got the swagger. It is a very talented team.”

Though he lost to the New York Mets on Sunday when Yoenis Cespedes’ seventh-inning homer broke a scoreless tie, Jeff

Samardzija has turned things around since redeploying a curveball. Samardzija, who took a nohitter into the seventh, has a 2.41 ERA in his last three starts.