Los Angeles @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 26, 2011 ) LA Dodgers 4, Arizona 2

THE STORY: With home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs at stake, the host Arizona Diamondbacks find themselves facing a Los Angeles Dodgers club not planning to rest any of its regulars. The two teams meet Tuesday with the Diamondbacks one game behind Milwaukee in the race for home-field advantage with two games to go. Los Angeles has won eight of its last 10 games.

TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, KCAL, Fox Sports Arizona

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Hiroki Kuroda (13-16, 3.17 ERA) at Diamondbacks RH Jarrod Parker (NR)

Kuroda, who allowed two runs over seven innings against the Giants last Thursday, is 2-5 with a 4.50 ERA in 10 career starts against the Diamondbacks. The Dodgers are 7-1 in Kuroda’s last eight Tuesday starts.

Parker is making his major league debut after going 11-9 with a 3.79 ERA in 130 2/3 innings over 26 starts with Double-A Mobile in his first year back from Tommy John surgery. He was selected ninth overall by Arizona in the 2007 draft.

ABOUT THE DODGERS (81-78): While Clayton Kershaw and Matt Kemp have justifiably received most of the attention this month, there’s no denying Kenley Jansen’s ascension as one of the top relievers in the majors. In each of his last two appearances, Jansen has struck out both batters he faced. Jansen has 16.10 strikeouts per nine innings this season, making him the all-time single-season record holder in that category with two games remaining. Jansen has struck out 31 of his past 49 batters, including 31 of his past 37 outs. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said he might bat Kemp leadoff in Wednesday’s season finale if he’s within striking distance of the Triple Crown. Kemp, who is seeking to become the first Triple Crown winner in 44 years, took the league lead in home runs with his 38th on Monday. The Dodgers’ MVP candidate also leads the league with 123 RBIs, but his .324 average trails Ryan Braun and Jose Reyes by 10 points entering Tuesday’s action.

ABOUT THE DIAMONDBACKS (93-67): Justin Upton (head) was re-evaluated on Monday after he was hit on the helmet by Tim Lincecum in Sunday’s game. Initial test results were negative, but the Diamondbacks will be cautious with their MVP candidate. He’s listed as day-to-day. Upton is tied with Washington’s Danny Espinosa for the National League lead in hit-by-pitches with 19. Josh Collmenter win Sunday over the Giants gave the Diamondbacks four starters with double-digit victories in a season for the first time since 1999. Ian Kennedy (21), Daniel Hudson (16), and Joe Saunders (12) joined Collmenter in this year’s select group. Saunders is the only pitcher in the Diamondbacks’ rotation with postseason experience. Hudson’s first-inning struggles will be something to watch in the playoffs. Opponents were batting .315 against Hudson in the first inning this season entering Monday, and that number increased after Kemp's three-run homer with no outs in the first. Hudson retired 15 in a row after Kemp’s blast.

FINAL PITCH: Dodgers outfielder Jerry Sands extended his hitting streak to a career-best 14 games with an eighth-inning single on Monday.