Los Angeles @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( May 31, 2018 ) Philadelphia 2, LA Dodgers 1

The Los Angeles Dodgers (55-44) got the better of the Philadelphia Phillies (55-43) in the Manny Machado Sweepstakes and will look to showcase their shiny new toy on Monday in the opener of a three-game road series at Citizens Bank Park. Machado has paid immediate dividends for Los Angeles, going 5-for-13 since being acquired from Baltimore while extending his on-base streak to a career high-tying 22 contests.

"You throw a guy like that in our lineup that is already dangerous, and it makes it even worse for the other team," said Matt Kemp, who homered twice in Sunday's 11-2 romp over Milwaukee. The 33-year-old Kemp, who is 11-for-31 with six runs scored in his last eight games, has gone deep on two occasions in just five at-bats versus Monday starter Zach Eflin. While National League West-leading Los Angeles has won six of eight, Philadelphia has emerged victorious in 12 of 18 to sit atop the NL East. Home Run Derby participant Rhys Hoskins went deep in both games of Sunday's doubleheader against San Diego after being held in the park since homering in three straight games in late June.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, SportsNet Los Angeles, NBCS Philadelphia

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Ross Stripling (8-2, 2.08 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Zach Eflin (7-2, 3.15)

Stripling scattered six hits over six scoreless innings in a 3-2 triumph over San Diego on July 12 to win his second straight start heading into his first career All-Star appearance. The 28-year-old owns a 4-2 mark with a stingy 1.81 ERA on the road while limiting the opposition to a .235 batting average. Aaron Altherr has homered among his three hits in six at-bats versus Stripling, although Odubel Herrera and Cesar Hernandez are a combined 0-for-9 versus the hurler.

Eflin posted a 6-0 mark with a 2.32 ERA in his last seven starts before missing his scheduled turn in the rotation due to a blister on his pitching hand. The 24-year-old is slated to come off the disabled list prior to Monday's contest versus Los Angeles, against which suffered his last loss on May 30 as he was blitzed for five runs in four innings of an 8-2 setback. Max Muncy joined Kemp in going deep versus the hurler in that encounter, dropping Eflin to 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in three career starts against the Dodgers.

WALK-OFFS

1. Los Angeles 2B Chase Utley likely will receive a hero's welcome on Friday when the soon-to-be retiring star returns to Philadelphia, with which he spent parts of 13 seasons.

2. Phillies 1B Carlos Santana, who had an RBI single in Sunday's nightcap, went 5-for-15 versus the Dodgers earlier this season.

3. Los Angeles 3B Justin Turner is nursing a groin injury and likely will be re-evaluated prior to Monday's series opener.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 3, Phillies 2