Diamondbacks at Dodgers
The Arizona Diamondbacks have raced out to an early four-game advantage in the National League West after only 15 contests, and much of the credit for that goes to their recent domination of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Diamondbacks seek a fourth consecutive regular-season series sweep of the Dodgers on Sunday, when the division rivals put a bow on their three-game set in Los Angeles.
The Diamondbacks have pretty much pounded the five-time defending division champions into submission lately aside from the Dodgers' three-game sweep in the NL Division Series, outscoring Los Angeles 74-29 during their 11-game regular-season streak. Arizona has scored at least six runs in all but one of the five meetings this year, including Saturday's 9-1 rout in which A.J. Pollock led the team's four-homer assault with a pair. The Dodgers will turn to Clayton Kershaw on Sunday with hopes that he can stop a three-game losing streak, but the club's scuffling offense suffered a setback on Saturday as Logan Forsythe - filling in for the injured Justin Turner at third base - was forced from the game with right shoulder discomfort. Los Angeles has surrendered 33 runs in three contests since entering Wednesday's series finale against Oakland with the lowest ERA in the NL.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Zack Godley (2-0, 0.64 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (0-2, 1.89)
Godley has yielded a total of two doubles and six singles through two starts and is coming off one of the best outings of his career, a victory over San Francisco on Monday in which he allowed four hits and struck out nine over seven scoreless innings. The native of South Carolina nearly was as impressive in his head-to-head showdown with Kershaw on April 3, when he yielded one run in seven frames. Chris Taylor is 4-for-10 with a homer against Godley, who is 2-1 with a 2.97 ERA in nine career appearances (five starts) versus the Dodgers.
Kershaw again received minimal help from his offense but escaped with a no-decision last Sunday at San Francisco after permitting one run and six hits in seven innings, The three-time Cy Young Award winner, who is winless through three starts for the first time since 2012, has received one run of support over his first 19 frames of work. Kershaw took the loss versus the Diamondbacks in his previous start as he served up a pair of solo homers among the four hits he allowed over six innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Diamondbacks have won each of their last nine games against a left-handed starter and are 20-3 in such contests since Aug. 12.
2. Los Angeles' 4-9 record after 13 games matches its worst start since 1994.
3. Arizona 1B Paul Goldschmidt, who has hit all three of his homers this season in his last four games, has more home runs (29) and RBIs (94) against Los Angeles than any active player.