Los Angeles @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 5, 2012 ) LA Dodgers 4, Arizona 1

Just a week ago, the Arizona Diamondbacks appeared poised to make a run at the division lead in the National League West. Six consecutive losses later and the Diamondbacks have dropped seven games behind the front-running Los Angeles Dodgers as the teams get set to meet in the second of a four-game series Friday night. Arizona faces the bleak prospect of trying to avoid a seventh consecutive loss against Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, who has dominated the Diamondbacks.

Following a stretch in which it lost 11 of 12 games, Los Angeles has managed to regain its equilibrium and open a 1 1/2-game lead over the San Francisco Giants. The Dodgers have won three straight despite the absence of their top two hitters in Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier, and now will be without shortstop Dee Gordon for at least six weeks. Gordon, who leads the majors in steals, needs surgery for a torn thumb ligament.

TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), FSN (Arizona)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (6-4, 2.65 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Josh Collmenter (0-2, 4.41 ERA)

Kershaw earned his second win in eight starts last time out, limiting the New York Mets to three runs (one earned) on five hits in seven innings. He tossed seven scoreless innings to beat the Diamondbacks on May 14, improving his career mark against Arizona to 7-2 with a 1.92 ERA in 11 starts. Justin Upton is 1-for-21 with eight strikeouts against Kershaw.

Collmenter yielded one run on three hits in six innings against the Milwaukee Brewers last time out. He was shipped to the bullpen after going 0-2 with a 9.82 ERA in four starts during April. Collmenter made three starts against the Dodgers last year, throwing six scoreless innings in one and failing to get through four innings in the last two.

WALK-OFFS

1. Dodgers 2B Mark Ellis came off the disabled list Thursday and had a pair of hits

2. The Diamondbacks' franchise-record streak of 15 games with a home run was snapped Thursday.

3. IF Luis Cruz became the first Dodger to collect an RBI in his first four games since Jimmy Wynn in 1974.