Pittsburgh @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 7, 2018 ) LA Dodgers 8, Pittsburgh 7

Matt Kemp has produced more than a few memorable performances in what has been a spectacular bounce-back season so far - something the Pittsburgh Pirates experienced first-hand early last month. The 33-year-old will continue to make a bid for his first All-Star appearance since 2012 on Monday, when the Los Angeles Dodgers host the opener of a three-game series against the Pirates.

Kemp almost single-handedly propelled the Dodgers to their 6-4 victory over Colorado on Sunday, going 3-for-4 with a solo homer and four RBIs - essentially matching his production across the board from his previous 12 games (3-for-36, one home run, four RBIs). He went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a blast, five RBIs and three runs scored in a June 6 loss at Pittsburgh - the only setback in a series for Los Angeles during which the native Oklahoman batted .417 and drove in seven runs over three games. The Pirates enter the final leg of their 10-game road trip having seemingly righted the ship by winning four of their first six during the trek following a five-game skid. Pittsburgh rookie Colin Moran stepped up in a big way in Sunday's 7-5 win over San Diego by hitting his second grand slam of the season.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Nick Kingham (2-3, 3.82 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Alex Wood (4-5, 4.00)

Kingham will return to the rotation for the first time since June 9, when he permitted two runs across 6 1/3 innings in a road loss to the Chicago Cubs. The 26-year-old is 1-2 with a 4.86 ERA in three road turns but is allowing opponents to bat only .209 and has posted a 0.99 WHIP in his first six career starts. Kingham is 4-2 with a 2.65 ERA in 10 turns at Triple-A Indianapolis and settled for a no-decision in his last minor-league outing last Monday after yielding two runs in 5 2/3 frames.

After winning once in his first 13 starts of the season, Wood notched his third victory in as many tries Wednesday against the Cubs, permitting three runs - two earned - and fanning six across seven innings. The 27-year-old native of North Carolina has allowed fewer than three earned runs in his each of his last four outings, lowering his ERA nearly one-half of a run over that stretch. Josh Harrison is 6-for-19 with two doubles and a homer against Wood, who is 2-2 with a 2.86 ERA in eight career appearances (seven starts) versus Pittsburgh.

WALK-OFFS

1. Dodgers 2B Max Muncy is hitting .357 and has drawn nine walks to go along with four home runs and five RBIs over his last nine games.

2. Moran on Sunday joined Wally Westlake (1947) as the only rookies in club history to hit two grand slams in a season.

3. Los Angeles RHP Daniel Hudson has allowed one earned run in 12 outings since the beginning of June and held the opposition hitless in seven of his last nine relief appearances.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 5, Pirates 2