Detroit @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( May 23, 2010 ) Detroit 6, LA Dodgers 2

THE STORY: Brad Penny gets the start for the visiting Detroit Tigers when they continue interleague play Monday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Penny won 16 games for the Dodgers in both 2006 and 2007, but he’s struggled this year with a 7.36 ERA in six road starts. The Dodgers have lost five of their last six and are 7 1/2 games back of first-place San Francisco.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Detroit, KCAL

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RHP Brad Penny (5-5, 4.93) vs. Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw (6-3, 3.28)

Penny allowed four runs and 10 baserunners over just 3 1/3 innings last Wednesday against Cleveland. He had zero strikeouts in his shortest outing of the season. Penny played for the Dodgers from 2004-2008. He is 4-4 with a 4.44 ERA against the Dodgers. In his last 3 starts, Penny is 1-1 with a 5.87 ERA.

Kershaw went seven innings and allowed one run on four hits and two walks while striking out four against the Reds last Tuesday. He has faced the Tigers just once in his career, allowing two hits over four scoreless innings in 2008.

ABOUT THE TIGERS (39-33): Detroit has lost three of their last five, but several hitters enter the Los Angeles series swinging a hot bat. Designated hitter Victor Martinez is 16-for-37 (.432) with one home run and nine RBIs in his last 10 games. Miguel Cabrera hit his 14th homer and scored three times Sunday, and he’s batting .533 in his last four games. Outfielder Brennan Boesch went 3-for-4 with three runs scored on Sunday, and he’s hitting .408 (29-for-71) with five doubles, six home runs and 13 RBIs over his last 17 games. How hot is the Tigers’ offense? The Tigers are batting .312 with 95 runs scored, 31 doubles and 20 home runs in 18 games during June. Shortstop Jhonny Peralta is fifth in voting for the American League All-Star shortstop despite hitting .305 with 11 homers and 40 RBIs.

ABOUT THE DODGERS (32-41): Catcher Rod Barajas landed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a sprained right ankle, and replacement Dioner Navarro promptly won Sunday’s game with an eighth-inning home run. Of course, Navarro isn’t expected to provide that kind of offense with Barajas out. He entered the game hitting just .156 this season. A.J. Ellis was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque and could split time with Navarro. Rookie Javy Guerra retired Carlos Lee, Brett Wallace and Chris Johnson for his second save on Sunday, and he’s making a strong claim to be the Dodgers closer even when Jonathan Broxton returns from the DL in the next two weeks. Guerra had a 1.06 ERA at Double-A Chattanooga before being called up to the majors. Outfield prospect Trayvon Robinson is making a case to be called up after hitting .315 with 15 home runs and 44 RBIs at Triple-A Albuquerque.

FINAL PITCH: The Dodgers are 6-21 in their last 27 games against teams from the American League Central.