Arizona @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 14, 2013 ) LA Dodgers 0, Arizona 1

The Arizona Diamondbacks and host Los Angeles Dodgers will both be looking to improve on their slow starts this month when they begin a three-game series at Chavez Ravine on Monday. The Diamondbacks have lost five of six, including a 5-1 loss to San Diego on Sunday. Los Angeles is coming off a frustrating series in San Francisco, where it suffered three consecutive one-run losses. The injury-plagued Dodgers are beginning a nine-game homestand having lost four straight games and six of their last eight.

Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez has been held out of the starting lineup in each of the last three games with a stiff neck, although he delivered a pinch-hit single on Sunday. Second baseman Mark Ellis (quad) has missed the last eight games, and Jerry Hairston appeared to re-injure his groin muscle on Sunday. While the Dodgers deal with a multitude of injuries, Arizona rookie shortstop Didi Gregorius (concussion) returned from the 7-day disabled list on Sunday and went 2-for-3 with a home run.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Trevor Cahill (1-3, 2.84 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Chris Capuano (0-1, 9.64)

Cahill continued his strong start last Tuesday against the Giants, allowing one run on four hits over eight-plus innings. He’s 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA in his last two starts. The 25-year-old right-hander faced Los Angeles on April 14, tossing 7 1/3 scoreless innings in a no-decision. A.J. Ellis is 6-for-14 with a home run and Gonzalez is 5-for-12 with a homer against Cahill, who is 4-0 with a 2.03 ERA in seven career starts against the Dodgers. He’s 2-0 with a 2.12 ERA in three starts at Dodger Stadium.

Capuano is expected to return from the disabled list to start against his former team on Monday. The 34-year-old Capuano, who made nine starts for Arizona in 2003, landed on the disabled list with a strained left calf on April 17 after appearing in three games. He allowed two runs over 5 1/3 innings on a Triple-A rehab assignment last Wednesday. Capuano is 2-6 with a 4.73 ERA in 11 career games (10 starts) against the Diamondbacks, including 1-2 with a 5.73 ERA in four starts last season.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Dodgers are 5-13 against National League West opponents.

2. The Diamondbacks have not committed an error in 13 of their last 14 games.

3. Los Angeles is 0-11 when trailing after six innings.

PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 6, Dodgers 3