Pittsburgh @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 6, 2013 ) Pittsburgh 0, LA Dodgers 1

The Los Angeles Dodgers will try to extend their shutout streak when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday in the finale of the three-game series. Dodgers' pitching has not allowed a run in its last 21 innings, shutting out the Pirates in the first two games of the series. Pittsburgh has managed six runs through the first five games and is hitting .117. The Dodgers have been struggling with their bats as well, hitting .130 with runners in scoring position.

Matt Kemp has been the biggest disappointment for the Dodgers. After delivering his first base hit in Friday’s 3-0 victory, he struck out three times and grounded into a double play in Saturday’s 1-0 win, dropping his average to .056. Carl Crawford and Mark Ellis are providing a strong 1-2 punch at the top of the order. Crawford is hitting .438 and Ellis is off to a .375 start. Adrian Gonzalez is also heating up, collecting four hits in the last two games. Andrew McCutchen (.235) and Starling Marte (.211) are the only players hitting better than .167 for the Pirates.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), ROOT Sports (Pittsburgh)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates LH Jeff Locke (2012: 1-3, 5.50) vs. Dodgers LH Hyun-Jin Ryu (0-1, 1.42)

Locke will make his long-awaited season debut after making his first Opening Day roster. The 25-year-old earned the No. 5 starter role by compiling a 3-1 record and 2.63 ERA in seven appearances during the preseason. He faced the Boston Red Sox three times, the New York Yankees twice and the Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles once apiece. “I threw against the American League East all spring training, a bunch of good lineups,” Locke told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “I'm excited to face the Dodgers.” Locke threw two shutout innings against the Dodgers last August.

Ryu's Major League debut Tuesday against the Giants was encouraging. The only thing that disappointed the fans was his lack of hustle while running out a ground ball in the sixth inning. Ryu scattered 10 hits over 6 1/3 innings, struck out five and walked none while allowing one earned run in the 3-0 loss. “He gave up a lot of hits, but he got himself out of stuff because he knows what he's doing,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. Ryu has been compared to former All-Star pitcher David Wells, both in size and his ability to throw strikes. Wells averaged 1.9 walks per nine innings in his career.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pirates 3B Pedro Alvarez, who struck out three times Friday night, struck out 58 times in 140 at-bats against left-handers last season.

2. Dodgers 3B Luis Cruz and SS Justin Sellers are a combined 0-for-30.

3. The Dodgers have won eight in a row against the Pirates at Dodger Stadium and 16 of the last 18.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 3, Pirates 1