Los Angeles @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 5, 2011 ) LA Dodgers 7, Arizona 4

THE STORY: The Arizona Diamondbacks missed an opportunity to move into first in the National League West but could get another chance Saturday when they host the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second of a three-game series. The Dodgers defeated the Diamondbacks 7-4 on Friday to keep Arizona a half-game behind San Francisco, which lost to the Phillies. Los Angeles moved into a virtual tie for third place with Colorado.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSPT (Los Angeles), FSAZ (Arizona).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Nathan Eovaldi (0-0, 0.00) vs. Diamondbacks LH Joe Saunders (8-8, 3.56).

Eovaldi is expected to be promoted from Double-A Chattanooga to make his major-league debut for the Dodgers. Eovaldi was 6-5 with a 2.62 ERA in 19 starts for Chattanooga. He will start in place of Rubby De La Rosa, who suffered a season-ending elbow injury and will undergo surgery Tuesday. Eovaldi had 99 strikeouts in 103 innings in Double-A ball. The 21-year-old was selected in the 11th round of the 2008 draft. Saunders looks to defeat the Dodgers for the second time in six days. He gave up two runs and eight hits in 7 2/3 innings while beating the Dodgers on Sunday. He has won two straight decisions and has allowed two runs or fewer in three straight starts. Saunders is 1-2 with a 3.54 ERA in three starts against Los Angeles this season. Overall, he is 2-4 with a 3.53 ERA in eight career starts. Andre Ethier is batting .450 in 20 career at-bats against Saunders, who has allowed 17 first-inning runs this season.

ABOUT THE DIAMONDBACKS (61-51): Arizona began a 10-game homestand on a sour note after an impressive 6-3 road trip. The Diamondbacks have allowed 15 runs over the last two games, both losses. Willie Bloomquist had his fourth three-hit game of the season and raised his career average against Los Angeles to .333. Miguel Montero has reached base in 15 straight games and recorded his 56th RBI, which leads major-league catchers. Sean Burroughs had a pinch single for his first hit since July 7. Burroughs was hitless in 18 at-bats over 14 games. Ryan Roberts reached base three times on a single and two walks. Prior to the game, he was announced as Arizona’s winner of the Heart and Hustle Award, presented by the players’ alumni association.

ABOUT THE DODGERS (51-60): Los Angeles had tallied just one run in its two previous games before erupting for seven Friday. Rod Barajas homered and had three RBIs, Juan Rivera reached base four times on a single and three walks, and Casey Blake had three hits. Blake is 5-for-16 since returning from a neck injury. Ethier had two hits and is batting .440 over the last seven games, while Matt Kemp is hitting .404 over the last 12. Closer Javy Guerra has been a real find for the Dodgers after starting the season in Double-A ball. Three of the four outs Guerra recorded Friday were strikeouts, and he is 10-for-10 in save opportunities.

FINAL PITCH: The Dodgers’ financial picture became a bit clearer Friday when the team and Major League Baseball agreed on a bankruptcy financing plan that will provide up to $150 million of unsecured financing. The Dodgers filed for bankruptcy protection in June.