Arizona @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( May 7, 2013 ) Arizona 5, LA Dodgers 3

The visiting Arizona Diamondbacks will try to maintain their grip on the Los Angeles Dodgers when they meet Wednesday in the finale of their three-game series. The Diamondbacks won the first two games and have taken 14 of the last 17 against their National League West rivals. Three times the Dodgers rallied from one-run deficits Tuesday, but ultimately lost 5-3 on a two-run homer in the ninth by Paul Goldschmidt, dropping them to 0-13 this season when they trail after six innings.

Arizona leadoff hitter Gerardo Parra has hit safely in 18 of the last 20 games. Getting the first batter out was a problem for the Dodgers on Tuesday, when the Diamondbacks put their leadoff batter on in eight of the nine innings. Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez continues to be one of the few bright spots for Los Angeles as he has driven in 20.2 percent of the team’s runs. Matt Kemp has slowly bumped his average to .273, but is still stuck on one home run after averaging 29 the previous four seasons.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Arizona, KCAL (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Wade Miley (2-1, 3.06 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (3-2, 1.66)

Miley has struggled with his control this season, which is the main reason why he has yet to get through the seventh inning. He did that 12 times last year en route to finishing runner-up to Bryce Harper in National League Rookie of the Year voting. Miley, who has walked 10 batters in the last 9 1/3 innings, is coming off his only loss of the season, a five-inning, four-run, nine-hit effort Friday against the San Diego Padres. Three of his four starts last season against Los Angeles came at Dodger Stadium, where he went 2-0 with a 2.11 ERA. Kemp has two home runs in six career at-bats against Miley.

Kershaw suffered his first loss this season against the Diamondbacks, a game that continued a trend when he’s on the mound. Kershaw allowed three runs in 7 1/3 innings April 12 in Arizona, but the Dodgers didn’t provide any run support in the 3-0 loss. The offense has scored two runs or less in five of Kershaw’s seven starts. In his three victories this season, Kershaw didn’t allow any runs. The Dodgers haven't supported Kershaw against the Diamondbacks in the past either. He’s 7-6 overall against Arizona, the most losses he has suffered against any team, but his ERA is 2.36.

WALK-OFFS

1. None of the current Arizona players have homered off Kershaw in their careers.

2. The Diamondbacks are only team in the majors that hasn’t been shut out this season.

3. Diamondbacks RHP J.J. Putz will be evaluated after leaving in the ninth Tuesday with elbow stiffness.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 2, Diamondbacks 1