Los Angeles @ Arizona preview
Chase Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 11, 2012 ) LA Dodgers 0, Arizona 1
The Arizona Diamondbacks have proven to be quite the thorn in the side of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Arizona will vie for its 10th victory in its last 12 outings versus Los Angeles on Wednesday when the National League West rivals conclude their abbreviated two-game set at Chase Field. Miguel Montero ripped an RBI double in the seventh inning and Ian Kennedy tossed 7 1/3 sizzling frames as the Diamondbacks snapped a six-game home losing skid with a 1-0 triumph on Tuesday.
Arizona moved to within five games of St. Louis in the race for the second wild card. Los Angeles, which has dropped five of its last six, may soon be focusing primarily on that race as well after it dropped six games behind NL West-leading San Francisco with 20 contests remaining. Matt Kemp returned with a flourish from his two-game absence with an inflamed left shoulder. He had a double and threw out Montero at the plate for Los Angeles, which sits one game behind St. Louis.
TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, FSPT (Los Angeles), FSAZ (Arizona)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Aaron Harang (9-8, 3.75 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Trevor Cahill (10-11, 3.98)
Harang has been snakebitten against the Diamondbacks. Despite owning a 3.10 career ERA, Harang is just 3-7 lifetime versus Arizona. He yielded three runs in five solid innings in a no-decision against the Diamondbacks on Aug. 31. He matched that line in his last trip to the mound, again settling for a no-decision against San Diego on Wednesday.
Cahill posted his first victory in over two months when he yielded two runs on as many hits in 6 1/3 innings in a 6-2 triumph over San Francisco on Wednesday. The 24-year-old improved to 3-0 versus the Dodgers after permitting one run in six solid innings in a 7-2 victory on July 30. He struggled in his last matchup against them, however, allowing three runs in 5 2/3 innings in a no-decision.
WALK-OFFS
1. Diamondbacks 1B Paul Goldschmidt, who is 11-for-32 in his last nine contests, has gone deep twice in a 4-for-8 career effort versus Harang.
2. Los Angeles speedy SS Dee Gordon was reinstated from the 60-day disabled list on Tuesday and served as a pinch runner in the eighth inning. Gordon has been sidelined with a thumb injury.
3. Arizona OF Chris Young's MRI exam revealed a strain of his right quadriceps muscle. Young was able to run prior to batting practice, but a date for his return to action is unknown.