Los Angeles @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 7, 2013 ) LA Dodgers 3, Cincinnati 4

Two hot pitchers square off in the nationally televised Sunday night contest when the Los Angeles Dodgers visit the Cincinnati Reds in the finale of the three-game series. Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw leads the majors in ERA and is a strong candidate to win his second National League Cy Young Award, while Cincinnati’s Homer Bailey has won five consecutive decisions. The Reds notched one-run victories in each of the first two games of the series.

Adrian Gonzalez always enjoys seeing Bailey on the mound as he is 9-for-18 with five homers and two doubles against the right-hander. Todd Frazier’s single in the 10th inning on Saturday plated the winning run as the Reds climbed within 1 1/2 games of first-place St. Louis in the NL Central. The Dodgers have lost three consecutive games for the first time since June 8-10 but are cruising toward the NL West title.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (14-8, 1.89 ERA) vs. Reds RH Homer Bailey (10-10, 3.42)

Kershaw beat the Rockies in his last start, a shaky outing in which he allowed season highs of five runs and 11 hits in just five innings. He had given up just five runs in seven starts prior to the contest while compiling an 0.87 ERA during the stretch. Kershaw began that impressive run by beating the Reds on July 26, when he gave up one run and six hits in eight innings to improve to 2-1 with a 2.81 ERA in seven career starts against Cincinnati.

Bailey was exceptionally good in his last two starts - both against St. Louis - allowing only seven hits in 14 1/3 scoreless innings. His last loss came against the Dodgers on July 26, when he gave up two runs and seven hits in seven frames. Bailey is 3-3 with a 4.23 ERA in seven career outings against Los Angeles.

WALK-OFFS

1. Reds 2B Brandon Phillips is 8-for-19 against Kershaw and will be in the lineup after being held out Saturday due to a quadriceps contusion.

2. Dodgers OF Andre Ethier is hitless in 15 career at-bats against Bailey.

3. Cincinnati 1B Joey Votto hasn’t been retired in the series – he’s 4-for-4 with five walks.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 3, Reds 2