Los Angeles @ Arizona preview

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

One day after officially being eliminated from playoff contention, the Arizona Diamondbacks won’t lack for motivation as they begin a three-game series Monday against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers. Arizona will be looking to prevent a celebration at Chase Field by the Dodgers, whose magic number to clinch the National League West is six as it owns a 1 1/2-game lead over Colorado.

Manny Machado, Austin Barnes and Matt Kemp homered while Hyun-Jin Ryu pitched six scoreless innings on Sunday as the Dodgers cruised to a 14-0 victory over San Diego, giving them nine wins in their last 11 contests. Kemp went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs while Max Muncy recorded four RBIs for Los Angeles, which took two of three from the Padres and sit one game behind Atlanta for home-field advantage in the NL Division Series. Arizona scored a total of three runs in three straight losses to Colorado over the weekend and has dropped 12 of its last 15 contests. Chris Owings, Eduardo Escobar and David Peralta notched two hits apiece in Sunday’s 2-0 setback as Arizona fell to 1-5 on its nine-game homestand.

TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), FS Arizona

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (8-5, 2.45 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Robbie Ray (6-2, 3.92)

Kershaw struggled with his command on Tuesday and settled for a no-decision after allowing two runs - one earned - on three hits and five walks over seven innings against Colorado. The three-time Cy Young Award winner has permitted three earned runs or fewer in 23 of his 24 starts this season. A.J. Pollock is 8-for-43 with nine strikeouts against Kershaw, who is 15-9 with a 2.53 ERA in 30 career turns versus Arizona – including a 5-8 record and 3.65 mark in 14 outings at Chase Field.

Ray won his third straight decision on Wednesday, allowing one hit with four walks and eight strikeouts in six scoreless innings versus the Chicago Cubs. The 26-year-old Tennessean has posted a stellar 1.59 ERA with 46 strikeouts over 34 frames in his last six turns. Kemp is 7-for-16 with two home runs against Ray, who has gone 2-0 with a 1.57 ERA in his last five home outings and owns a 7-3 record and 2.63 ERA in 14 career starts versus Los Angeles.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Diamondbacks are 9-7 against the Dodgers this season, including a 5-2 record at home.

2. The Dodgers have set a franchise record for home runs in a single season with 225.

3. Arizona OF Steven Souza Jr. is listed as day-to-day after being removed from Sunday’s game with a lower back spasm.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 5, Diamondbacks 2