St. Louis @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( May 25, 2013 ) St. Louis 3, LA Dodgers 5

The St. Louis Cardinals will try to avoid losing their first series in four weeks when they visit the Los Angeles Dodgers in Sunday’s finale. The Dodgers will be trying to win a second straight series for the second time this season. Despite the rough start, Los Angeles has managed to remain six games back in the National League West. The Cardinals saw their lead over the Cincinnati Reds in the National League Central trimmed to a half-game after Saturday's 5-3 loss.

The biggest surprise for the Dodgers this season has been the hitting of utility player Nick Punto. He had three more hits in Saturday’s victory to raise his average to .340. The 13-year veteran came into the game hitting .250 for his career. Mark Ellis (.309) and Adrian Gonzalez (.316) gives Los Angeles three hot hitters at the top of their order. Now the Dodgers need their run producers, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier, to find consistency at the plate. St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina is 7-for-11 in his last three games to boost his average to .339. Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw has the lowest ERA in the majors and Miller is fifth.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Midwest (St. Louis), Fox Sports Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Shelby Miller (5-3, 1.74 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (5-2, 1.35)

Miller hasn’t allowed an earned run in four of his nine starts this season, including two in which he allowed just one hit. However, he hasn’t been nearly as sharp in his last two starts as he was during his one-hit shutout on May 10 against the Colorado Rockies, when he struck out 13 and didn’t walk a batter. He hasn’t made it out of the sixth inning in his last two outings, a no-decision against the New York Mets and a 4-2 loss Monday against the San Diego Padres. Still, he has allowed just four earned runs in 26 1/3 innings this month. In his other two losses, the Cardinals didn't score at all.

Kershaw has been especially sharp in his last five starts, allowing one earned run or less while pitching at least seven innings in each of those appearances. Kershaw made his major-league debut against the Cardinals on May 25, 2008 and is 4-3 in 10 career starts against St. Louis with a 3.67 ERA. Allen Craig (4-for-11) and Matt Holliday (8-for-24) have had decent success of Kershaw in their careers, but he has handcuffed the likes of Carlos Beltran (4-for-21), Molina (4-for-17) and Ty Wigginton (2-for-15).

WALK-OFFS

1. Kershaw has allowed three earned runs or less in 22 consecutive starts, the longest active streak in the majors.

2. Dodgers closer Brandon League has allowed at least one base hit in 11 of his last 13 appearances.

3. The Cardinals announced they will seek a second opinion on the pitching elbow of RHP Jake Westbrook, who ended a bullpen session prematurely Wednesday after experiencing discomfort.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 3, Cardinals 1