Dodgers at Diamondbacks
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a virtual lock to win the National League West for the seventh consecutive season, but their recent play has already cost them the best record in majors and put them in some danger of clinching home field through the NL playoffs. The Dodgers attempt to snap a three-game losing streak and avoid a sweep Sunday when they visit the Arizona Diamondbacks for the finale of their four-game set.
Los Angeles (88-50) owns a 17-game lead over Arizona in the West and carries the second-smallest magic number to win a division entering September in the last 20 seasons (nine), yet the club finds itself in the midst of one of its roughest patches of the season. The Dodgers lost for the sixth time in their last nine contests following Saturday's 6-5 setback in Arizona - a defeat that allowed Atlanta (83-54) to pull within 4 1/2 games for the best record in NL. The Diamondbacks (70-66) have caught fire over the last week, averaging six runs during a season-high six-game winning streak to move within 3 1/2 games of the second wild card. Eduardo Escobar homered for the third straight contest Saturday to add to his career-best total (32) while also pulling into a tie for the major-league lead in RBIs (109).
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), FS Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Ross Stripling (4-4, 3.64 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Alex Young (6-3, 3.81)
Stripling is expected to return from a month-plus stint on the injured list due to biceps tendinitis and pitch two to three innings before handing it over to rookie Dustin May (1-3, 4.07), who is coming off back-to-back rough outings. The 21-year-old was tagged for four runs in two relief frames in a loss at Atlanta on Aug. 18 before yielding four runs (two earned) over 5 1/3 innings in another setback to San Diego on Monday. May owns a 17:4 strikeout-to-walk ratio through his first 24 1/3 big-league frames.
Young earned his second win in as many turns Monday in San Francisco after permitting two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks across 5 1/3 innings. While the native Texan has been solid overall in six appearances (five starts) on the road (4-1, 2.96 ERA), he has struggled in five outings at home (2-2, 4.67). One of Young's worst performances across his first 11 appearances came in Los Angeles on Aug. 10 when he was reached for four runs over 3 1/3 frames.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Diamondbacks have won 19 of the last 28 at home against the Dodgers.
2. Los Angeles 3B Justin Turner finished 3-for-4 on Saturday, including a solo shot to move within one home run of his career high (27; 2016).
3. Arizona 2B Ketel Marte (hamstring), who popped out in the fifth inning as a pinch hitter to end a career-high 22-game on-base streak, is expected to return to the lineup Sunday.