Miami @ Los Angeles preview
Dodger Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 24, 2012 ) Miami 4, LA Dodgers 11
With the possibility of reinforcements on the way shortly, the Los Angeles Dodgers attempt to clinch a series victory Saturday when they host the Miami Marlins in the middle contest of their three-game series. Los Angeles snapped a three-game losing streak with an 11-4 triumph in the series opener on Friday and remained three games behind San Francisco in the National League West. The Dodgers received a huge offensive performance by Andre Ethier, who went 4-for-4 with a three-run homer and an RBI single.
Ethier and Matt Kemp could be getting more offensive support as Los Angeles is in the process of working out a trade that would bring slugger Adrian Gonzalez from the Boston Red Sox. The Dodgers also would receive right-hander Josh Beckett, outfielder Carl Crawford and infielder Nick Punto while sending James Loney and prospects to Boston. The Marlins suffered their third straight loss Friday and fell to 4-5 on their 11-game road trip.
TV: 9:10 p.m. ET, FSN Florida (Miami), Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Josh Johnson (7-10, 3.73 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (11-7, 2.87)
Johnson saw his personal losing streak reach three games Sunday despite allowing three runs over seven innings at Colorado. The 28-year-old is just 2-3 over his last six starts even though he has yielded three runs or less in each outing. Johnson owns a 3-1 record in six career starts against the Dodgers, including a 3-0 mark in four outings at Dodger Stadium.
Kershaw was a hard-luck loser against San Francisco on Monday as he allowed only two runs and struck out 10 in eight innings. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, who had won four in a row, has yielded three runs or less in seven of his last eight outings. Kershaw improved to 6-4 lifetime against the Marlins when he gave up two runs over 6 1/3 frames at Miami on Aug. 10.
WALK-OFFS
1. Los Angeles SS Hanley Ramirez is 7-for-17 (.412) with seven RBIs in four games against Miami.
2. Marlins OF Giancarlo Stanton has hit 14 of his 27 home runs against NL West clubs.
3. The Dodgers are 1 1/2 games behind St. Louis for the second wild-card spot in the NL.