Los Angeles @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 17, 2013 ) LA Dodgers 9, Arizona 3

The Los Angeles Dodgers can clinch their first division title since 2009 on Wednesday when Stephen Fife faces the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Brandon McCarthy. The Dodgers’ magic number to clinch the National League West stands at two with 11 games to play, and they’ll be celebrating at Chase Field with one win in the final two games of the series. Los Angeles snapped a four-game losing streak on Tuesday with an encouraging 9-3 victory.

Matt Kemp started his first game since landing on the disabled list July 21 and went 4-for-4 with three RBIs in the win, and Hanley Ramirez scored three runs after missing the previous four games with back pain. The Dodgers had Ramirez and Kemp in the lineup together for only the 13th time this season, and they’re hoping to have outfielders Andre Ethier (ankle) and Carl Crawford (back) join them later this week. Paul Goldschmidt is 15-for-27 during a seven-game hitting streak for Arizona, which has lost six of its last eight contests to Los Angeles.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, ESPN, Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), FSN (Arizona)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Stephen Fife (4-3, 3.38 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Brandon McCarthy (4-9, 4.58)

Fife is making his first start since Aug. 4 in place of ace Clayton Kershaw, who is being given three extra days' rest before facing San Diego on Saturday. Fife has allowed two or fewer earned runs in 12 of his 14 major-league starts, but he’s allowed seven earned runs over five innings in his last two relief appearances. The 26-year-old is facing Arizona for the second time after allowing two runs over 4 1/3 innings on Aug. 1, 2012.

McCarthy has allowed two or fewer earned runs in three of his last four starts while posting a 2.10 ERA over that span. The 30-year-old has gone 1-0 with a 2.03 ERA in two career starts versus the Dodgers. McCarthy, who recorded his first career hit last Friday, has posted a 3.86 ERA in 10 home starts compared to a 5.59 mark in nine road outings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Los Angeles has gone 30-10 over its last 40 road games since June 22.

2. The Diamondbacks are 9-58 when trailing after seven innings.

3. Dodgers 1B Adrian Gonzalez has hit safely in 14 of 17 games against Arizona this season, batting .375 (24-for-64) with four homers and 13 RBIs.

PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 6, Dodgers 3