Los Angeles @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 20, 2020 ) Arizona 1, LA Dodgers 12

The Los Angeles Dodgers are fresh off a two-game emotional sweep of the Houston Astros and took to extend their brief winning streak when they visit the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday in the opener of a four-game series. Los Angeles sent the Astros home unhappy on Wednesday when Edwin Rios smacked a decisive two-run homer in the 13th inning for a 4-2 victory.

Corey Seager also homered for Los Angeles, which bounced back from two straight defeats to the San Francisco Giants to slay the Astros, who defeated them in the 2017 World Series. Reigning National League MVP Cody Bellinger was 1-for-9 in the series against Houston and is batting just .192. The Diamondbacks have scored just 17 runs and hit only one homer while losing four of their first six games. Six starters are hitting below .200, including offseason acquisition Kole Calhoun (.150, one homer) and productive holdovers David Peralta (.182), Eduardo Escobar (.174) and Nick Ahmed (.100).

TIME: 9:40 p.m. ET. TV: SportsNet LA, FS Arizona

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Ross Stripling (1-0, 1.29 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Robbie Ray (0-1, 7.36)

Stripling was strong in his initial start while beating the San Francisco Giants last Friday as he gave up one run and four hits and struck out seven in seven innings. The 29-year-old figures to be a rotation mainstay this season with David Price opting out, Clayton Kershaw (back) ailing and Alex Wood (shoulder) being placed on the 10-day injured list. Stripling is 1-4 with a 3.86 ERA in 23 career appearances (eight starts) against Arizona and has struggled with Ahmed (7-for-13, two homers) and Peralta (10-for-23).

Ray struck out seven in 3 2/3 innings while losing to the San Diego Padres on Saturday when he gave up three runs and four hits. The 28-year-old struck out 235 batters last season while winning 12 games, three shy of his career high set in 2017. Ray is 8-5 with a 3.15 ERA in 20 career starts against the Dodgers -- striking out 161 in 120 innings -- and has served up four homers to Enrique Hernandez and two to Justin Turner.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Dodgers went 11-8 versus the Diamondbacks last season.

2. Los Angeles RHP Joe Kelly received an eight-game suspension -- he immediately appealed -- and manager Dave Roberts was suspended for Wednesday's game due to their actions in Tuesday's benches-clearing incident in Houston.

3. Arizona INF-DH Jake Lamb has struck out eight times during his 1-for-13 start.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 6, Diamondbacks 2