Los Angeles @ Arizona preview
Chase Field
Last Meeting ( May 23, 2012 ) LA Dodgers 4, Arizona 11
The Los Angeles Dodgers enter the opener of their four-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday atop the National League West but considerably shorthanded. Los Angeles, which climbed one-half game ahead of San Francisco in the division, will be without outfielder Andre Ethier and shortstop Dee Gordon in addition to outfielder Matt Kemp.
Ethier was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a strained left oblique while Gordon suffered a thumb injury in the Dodgers' victory over Cincinnati later in the evening. Kemp has not played since May 30 due to a strained hamstring. Los Angeles has won three of its last four games after dropping seven in a row and 11 of 12. The Diamondbacks are coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of San Diego that extended their losing streak to five contests.
TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), FSN (Arizona)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Nathan Eovaldi (0-5, 4.61 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Wade Miley (9-4, 2.87)
Eovaldi makes his eighth attempt at his first win of the season. The 22-year-old received a total of zero runs of support in his last two starts but did not help his cause whatsoever, surrendering 13 runs over 10 1/3 innings in the outings. Eovaldi, who has received a major league-worst 1.1 runs of support this year, posted his only career victory against Arizona in his big-league debut on Aug. 6, yielding two runs in five innings.
Miley is coming off his worst outing of the season as he allowed eight runs over just 3 2/3 innings in a loss at Milwaukee on Saturday. The 25-year-old All-Star had given up one run in each of his previous four starts. Miley limited the Dodgers to one run over 6 2/3 frames in a victory at Los Angeles on May 15.
WALK-OFFS
1. Gordon dislocated his right thumb while recording his 30th stolen base of the year in the eighth inning of Wednesday's triumph over Cincinnati.
2. Kemp went 2-for-4 with three RBIs in his second rehab game with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Wednesday.
3. The Diamondbacks extended their franchise record on Wednesday by homering in their 15th consecutive game.