Los Angeles @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 8, 2013 ) LA Dodgers 6, Arizona 1

Ian Kennedy pitches against Los Angeles for the first time since he was suspended for his part in a bench-clearing brawl when the Arizona Diamondbacks host the Dodgers on Tuesday. Kennedy drew a 10-game suspension after hitting Yasiel Puig and Zach Greinke with pitches on June 11, and Monday’s first meeting since the unruly series was played without incident. Greinke pitched seven scoreless innings and went 3-for-3 as the Dodgers halted Arizona’s five-game winning streak.

The Dodgers had 17 hits in the opener – 16 were singles – and shortstop Hanley Ramirez had three hits to extend his career-long hitting streak to 19 games. Arizona saw its National League West lead over Los Angeles slip to 3 1/2 games as the Dodgers won for the 13th time in 16 games despite placing center fielder Matt Kemp (shoulder) on the disabled list prior to the game. Ricky Nolasco is making his Los Angeles debut after being acquired from the Miami Marlins for three minor leaguers on Sunday.

TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, KCAL (Los Angeles), Fox Sports Arizona

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Ricky Nolasco (5-8, 3.85 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Ian Kennedy (3-4, 5.16)

Nolasco struck out a season-high 11 and allowed one run and five hits in eight innings while beating Arizona on May 19. He is 6-2 with a 4.14 ERA in nine career starts against the Diamondbacks. Nolasco allowed three or fewer earned runs in 13 of his 18 starts with the Marlins.

Kennedy hasn’t won since June 1 and is 0-1 with four no-decisions over his last five outings. He gave up two runs and four hits in 6 1/3 innings in his June 11 start against the Dodgers but was rocked for six runs and 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings back on April 13. Kennedy is 5-3 with a 3.77 ERA in 10 career starts against Los Angeles.

WALK-OFFS

1. Puig went 2-for-5 in the opener and has four multihit outings over the last eight games.

2. Diamondbacks 1B Paul Goldschmidt is 9-for-20 over the last five games.

3. Dodgers INF Juan Uribe is hitless in 11 career at-bats against Kennedy.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 9, Diamondbacks 7