Arizona @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 7, 2011 ) LA Dodgers 3, Arizona 4

THE STORY: The never-say-die Arizona Diamondbacks have 42 comeback victories, and they're in position to overtake the Milwaukee Brewers for the second seed in the National League playoffs. Just one-half game behind the Brewers, Arizona starts a three-game series at the suddenly hot Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday. The Dodgers have won 15 of their last 19 games.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Arizona, Prime Ticket

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Joe Saunders (10-12, 3.88 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Ted Lilly (9-13, 4.37 ERA).

Saunders, who allowed three runs over six innings Wednesday against Colorado, is 2-5 with a 3.67 ERA in nine career starts against the Dodgers. He has struggled early in games this season, giving up 18 first-inning runs in 29 starts. Lilly tied a season high with nine strikeouts and allowed three runs – two earned – in five innings Tuesday against the Nationals. Lilly, who has allowed three runs or fewer in seven straight starts, is 4-6 with a 4.52 ERA in 12 career games – 10 starts – against Arizona.

ABOUT THE DIAMONDBACKS (85-62): Center fielder Chris Young is heating up just in time for the playoffs. Less than a week ago, the Diamondbacks rested Young for two games during a 1-for-27 slump. Young was batting just .147 with three home runs since the All-Star break, and there was talk that a left thumb injury was to blame. Young said he’d been playing with a strained ligament in his thumb, but he insists it didn’t contribute to his slide. It clearly didn’t hinder him over the weekend against the Padres as he went 5-for-15 over four games with a home run, three doubles and five RBIs. After a quick start at Double-A Mobile, top pitching prospect Trevor Bauer has been rocked in his last two outings. Bauer gave up 10 earned runs in 1 2/3 innings in his final regular season start, and he allowed seven earned runs over three innings Sunday in the Southern League playoffs.

ABOUT THE DODGERS (72-73): The Dodgers’ recent surge has given general manager Ned Colletti reason for optimism as he looks toward next season. “I don't think we’re that far away [from contending],” Colletti said. However, nine players will be eligible for free agency, including Hiroki Kuroda, Juan Rivera, Jonathan Broxton, Jamey Carroll, Aaron Miles, Rod Barajas and Jon Garland. The Dodgers will likely try to re-sign Kuroda and Rivera, but there’s little hope of them landing someone like Albert Pujols or Prince Fielder given their unstable ownership situation. Outfielder Andre Ethier will have arthroscopic knee surgery Wednesday, but he’s expected to be fine by the start of spring training. The Dodgers' win over San Francisco on Saturday featured five starters that spent most of the season at Triple-A Albuquerque – Dana Eveland, A.J. Ellis, Dee Gordon, Justin Sellers and Jerry Sands.

FINAL PITCH: The Dodgers have won six consecutive series for the first time since September 2008.