Cincinnati @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 14, 2012 ) LA Dodgers 9, Cincinnati 1

The Los Angeles Dodgers have put a painful losing streak in the rear-view mirror as they open a three-game series against the visiting Cincinnati Reds. Los Angeles ended a season-worst seven-game skid by beating the New York Mets on Sunday night – a stretch that included five shutout losses in a six-game span. Cincinnati hopes to have All-Star first baseman Joey Votto (knee) back in the lineup after he missed Sunday’s loss to the San Francisco Giants.

The Dodgers have won just two of their last 13 games but are still one game behind the first-place San Francisco Giants in the National League West. Los Angeles went 66 innings and seven days without holding a lead until edging ahead of New York in the sixth inning of the 8-3 victory. Cincinnati has a one-game lead over the surprising Pittsburgh Pirates in the NL Central. The Reds split four games with San Francisco to begin an 11-game West Coast trip and Sunday’s loss occurred when right fielder Jay Bruce misplayed a fly ball in the bottom of the ninth inning.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Ohio (Reds), Prime Ticket (Dodgers)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Homer Bailey (5-6, 4.42 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Chad Billingsley (4-7, 4.18 ERA)

Bailey has lost back-to-back starts after a stretch in which he won four of five decisions. He gave up four earned runs and seven hits in four innings while losing to the Milwaukee Brewers in his last outing. Bailey is 4-2 with a 3.09 ERA in seven road starts. He is 2-1 with a 4.70 ERA in four career starts against Los Angeles.

Billingsley has lost three consecutive starts. He gave up three runs and nine hits in six innings while losing to the San Francisco Giants in his last outing. Billingsley is just 1-3 at home with a 4.30 ERA in eight starts. He is 5-3 with a 4.84 ERA in 10 career appearances (nine starts) against Cincinnati.

WALK-OFFS:

1. Cincinnati outfielder Ryan Ludwick had three hits Sunday but possesses just a .214 average in 140 career at-bats against the Dodgers.

2. Los Angeles shortstop Dee Gordon has four steals in the past two games and leads the majors with 28.

3. Reds third baseman Scott Rolen was taken out of Sunday’s lineup before batting with back spasms and it’s unclear if he can play Monday.