Arizona @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 1, 2018 ) Arizona 2, LA Dodgers 3

If the first three games of the series are any indication, Sunday’s finale between the Los Angeles Dodgers and visiting Arizona Diamondbacks figures to be another nail-biter. After Arizona opened the set with a 3-1 victory, Los Angeles answered with back-to-back 3-2 wins to pull even with the club atop the National League West standings.

Matt Kemp belted a three-run homer off Archie Bradley in the eighth inning of Saturday’s victory and Kenley Jansen recorded his second save in as many days after allowing seven runs over his previous four appearances. Justin Turner notched two hits and Clayton Kershaw worked seven strong frames for the Dodgers, who won for the seventh time in eight games. Paul Goldschmidt reached base in his 44th straight road game on Saturday, but the Diamondbacks were held to five hits and have scored a total of 10 runs over their last six contests. A.J. Pollock is hitless in his last 25 at-bats for Arizona, which has dropped six of its last nine contests.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Clay Buchholz (7-2, 2.07 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Walker Buehler (6-4, 3.02)

Buchholz brings a 15-inning scoreless streak into the contest after allowing five hits over seven frames of a no-decision against San Francisco on Tuesday. The 34-year-old Texan has been a pleasant surprise for the Diamondbacks, going 6-1 with a 1.53 ERA in his last nine starts. Buchholz is making his second career start against the Dodgers after tossing 6 2/3 scoreless innings in a 2-0 win on June 20, 2010.

Buehler labored in the heat in Texas on Tuesday and settled for a no-decision after throwing 84 pitches and allowing two runs over four innings. The 24-year-old rookie went 2-0 with a 1.07 ERA in his previous four starts last month. Buehler, who will be facing Arizona for the first time, owns a stellar 106-to-25 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 98 1/3 frames and has served up a total of three home runs over his last six starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Arizona has gone 4-6 against the Dodgers this season since winning the first five matchups.

2. The Dodgers recalled C Kyle Farmer, INF Tim Locastro and OFs Andrew Toles and Alex Verdugo from Triple-A Oklahoma City while activating LHP Zac Rosscup (finger) and 2B Chase Utley (wrist) from the 10-day disabled list.

3. Arizona recalled RHP Silvino Bracho, RHP Matt Koch, RHP Jimmie Sherfy, INF Chris Owings and OF Socrates Brito from Triple-A Reno and purchased the contract of C Chris Stewart from the Aces.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 5, Diamondbacks 3