Los Angeles @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 28, 2013 ) Milwaukee 0, LA Dodgers 2

With their road trip off to a disastrous start, the Los Angeles Dodgers can only hope a visit to the struggling Milwaukee Brewers can help turn things around. The Dodgers will try to snap a three-game losing streak when they open a three-game set Monday against the Brewers, who have dropped 14 of 17 this month to slip into the National League Central cellar. The Dodgers, who led in the sixth inning or later in all three of their losses at Atlanta over the weekend, also have the benefit of handing the ball to ace Clayton Kershaw.

Kershaw is working on an extra day of rest after throwing 132 pitches and pitching into the ninth last time out against Washington. He will try to shut down Milwaukee for the second time in a little more than three weeks, as the struck out 12 Brewers over eight scoreless frames April 28 to help Los Angeles take two of the three from Milwaukee. Brewers ace Yovani Gallardo will counter Kershaw. Gallardo missed the Dodgers when the teams met last month, and he likely wasn't upset about it. He is 1-3 with a 6.21 ERA in six starts against Los Angeles.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, KCAL (Los Angeles), Fox Sports Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (4-2, 1.40 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Yovani Gallardo (3-3, 4.50)

Kershaw has recorded four straight quality starts and hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in any of his nine outings this season. He was dominant last time out against the Nationals, striking out 11 and allowing five hits in 8 2/3 scoreless innings. Kershaw is 3-3 with a 3.92 ERA in seven starts against Milwaukee.

After winning three straight starts to end April, Gallardo is winless in three outings this month. He has lost his last two starts, but he pitched well enough to win last time out, allowing two runs on three hits over six innings in a 3-1 loss at Pittsburgh. Walks have been a problem, as Gallardo has issued nine in his past two starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Dodgers activated 2B Mark Ellis (strained right quad) from the disabled list Sunday and optioned C Tim Federowicz to Triple-A Albuquerque. Ellis went 0-for-4 Sunday, snapping a six-game hitting streak he was riding before the injury.

2. The Brewers are 0-17 when scoring fewer than four runs and 2-16 when allowing more than four.

3. Los Angeles OF Scott Van Slyke left Sunday's game after fouling two pitches off his left leg. X-rays were negative but Van Slyke, who has hit three home runs in limited action since being called up May 10, could be sidelined for a couple of days.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 4, Brewers 1