Los Angeles @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 10, 2018 ) LA Dodgers 6, Cincinnati 10

The Los Angeles Dodgers made a strong push to temporarily climb atop the National League West during a recent two-week stretch, but their up-and-down play over the last week isn't helping their cause to win a sixth straight division title. Their lack of success this season against the Reds hasn't helped matters either - something the Dodgers hope to change in Cincinnati on Tuesday when the teams meet for the middle contest of their three-game set.

Los Angeles won eight of nine from Aug. 24 to Sept. 2 to turn a 4 1/2-game deficit in the West to a one-half game edge, but last year's NL pennant winner has alternated wins and losses in seven games since. After taking two of three at division-leading Colorado over the weekend, the Dodgers fell 1 1/2 games behind the Rockies and lost for the fifth time in as many tries to the Reds this year on Monday after falling behind by four runs in the first inning en route to a 10-6 setback in the series opener. Scooter Gennett (.320) took the lead in his pursuit of the NL batting crown and continued tormenting the Dodgers, going 4-for-5 with three RBIs to improve to 14-for-19 against them this season. Cincinnati has won each game with Los Angeles this season by at least two runs after losing eight in a row to the Dodgers entering 2018.

TV: 6:40 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Hyun-Jin Ryu (4-2, 2.16 ERA) vs. Reds RH Luis Castillo (8-12, 4.79)

Ryu collected his third quality start in his last five outings in bizarre fashion while taking the loss Wednesday at New York, giving up five runs (one earned) on 10 hits to the Mets while striking out eight over six innings. The 31-year-old hasn't pitched on the road in any of his five turns since coming off the disabled list in mid-August. Joey Votto (4-for-11, two doubles) and Scott Schebler (2-for-5) each have one home run against Ryu, who is 3-1 with a 4.30 ERA in five starts versus Cincinnati.

Castillo was unable to follow up a dominant 11-strikeout performance against St. Louis on Sept. 1, surrendering a career-high three homers among the five runs (two earned) he allowed across five frames in a loss to San Diego on Thursday. He has yielded multiple home runs in three of his last five outings, raising his total for the season to 27 (tied for seventh-most in the majors). David Freese is 4-for-8 with a homer versus Castillo, who allowed three runs (two earned) over six innings to beat Los Angeles on May 13.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Reds' winning streak is their longest against the Dodgers since a seven-game run in 1976.

2. Gennett leads the NL with 18 three-hit games and ranks second with 51 multi-hit efforts.

3. Los Angeles 2B/OF Chris Taylor is 7-for-14 with two homers and five RBIs over his last five games.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 6, Reds 4