Los Angeles @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 21, 2007 ) LA Dodgers 8, Toronto 4

The Los Angeles Dodgers have won 20 of their last 25 games to climb within one-half game of first-place Arizona in the National League West. The Dodgers look to continue their surge when they visit the struggling Toronto Blue Jays on Monday for the opener of a three-game interleague series. Slugger Matt Kemp returned from the disabled list and finished a triple shy of the cycle Sunday as Los Angeles completed a three-game sweep of Washington, but he turned his left ankle and could miss a few days.

The Blue Jays try to break out of their doldrums against a pitching staff that has allowed only 20 runs in the last 11 contests. Toronto is coming off a sweep at the hands of Tampa Bay and has dropped six of its last seven overall. The Blue Jays did get outfielder Melky Cabrera back from the disabled list Sunday to help the offense.

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, KCAL (Los Angeles), RSN (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Hyun-Jin Ryu (7-3, 3.09 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Josh Johnson (1-5, 5.16)

Ryu has been off for 11 days since allowing five runs over five innings in a no-decision against Arizona on July 10. The 26-year-old South Korean, who has held right-handed hitters to a .230 average, limited opponents to three or fewer runs in each of his previous 10 starts while going 4-1. Ryu never has faced Toronto but is 1-1 with a 3.43 ERA in three starts against American League teams this season.

Johnson has struggled in four starts since earning his only victory, yielding 20 runs (15 earned) over 21 1/3 innings. The right-hander has surrendered 10 home runs in 66 1/3 frames while recording 67 strikeouts. Johnson is 3-2 with a 5.84 ERA in seven career starts against the Dodgers and has had plenty of trouble with Andre Ethier, who is 8-for-15 against him.

WALK-OFFS

1. Los Angeles SS Hanley Ramirez is batting .400 with 13 RBIs in 16 games this month.

2. Toronto SS Jose Reyes is 11-for-27 during a six-game hitting streak and is batting .300 in 48 career contests against the Dodgers.

3. The Blue Jays and Dodgers have not played since 2007, when they split six games.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 5, Blue Jays 4