The Los Angeles Dodgers ended their three-game losing streak by shutting out the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday afternoon at Great American Ball Park. The Dodgers’ victory snapped the Reds’ five-game winning streak.
What’s more, the San Francisco Giants losing on Sunday evening to the New York Mets put the Dodgers back in first place in the National League West with a half-game lead. At worst, the Dodgers will be tied with the Giants when their three-game set begins Tuesday.
Scott Kazmir looks to take care of business before the longtime rivals meet in a key series. Los Angeles is in position to finish above .500 on their seven-game road trip and earn a series split in Cincinnati.
Kazmir enters 10-6 with a 4.41 ERA, 4.47 FIP and 1.31 WHIP to go along with 133 strikeouts and 49 walks in 132.2 innings pitched.
He’s undefeated on the road this season, going 6-0 despite a 4.77 ERA. Kazmir is 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA in two career starts against the Reds.
He last faced them on May 25, allowing one run and collecting 12 strikeouts over six innings. Opposing Kazmir is be right-hander Homer Bailey.
The 30-year-old, who has two career no-hitters, recently returned from Tommy John surgery. He’s 2-1 with a 3.66 ERA, 2.28 FIP and 1.37 WHIP in four starts.
In his last two starts he has given up just one run in 11 innings while striking out 17. Bailey is 4-3 with a 3.84 ERA in nine career starts against Los Angeles.
Adrian Gonzalez has faired well against Bailey in his career, batting 10-for-23 (.435) with five home runs. The only Dodgers player who has faced Bailey more times is Chase Utley, who is 6-for-26 (.231).
Gonzalez is in the midst of a 14-game hitting streak, while Corey Seager owns a 12-game hitting streak. Seager had a stretch of 19 consecutive games with at least one hit earlier this season.
Josh Reddick was scratched from the lineup with a jammed right middle finger. As a result, Andrew Toles makes a second straight start since being recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday.
With the Dodgers slated to face Madison Bumgarner on Tuesday, Reddick presumably will get two games to recover from the minor injury.
Justin Turner gets the afternoon off, with Rob Segedin handling duties at third base. Segedin is 8-for-28 with one double and nine RBIs over 13 games with the Dodgers.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Chase Utley
SS: Corey Seager
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
C: Yasmani Grandal
CF: Joc Pederson
LF: Howie Kendrick
RF: Andrew Toles
3B: Rob Segedin
P: Scott Kazmir
Reds lineup:
CF: Billy Hamilton
SS: Jose Peraza
1B: Joey Votto
LF: Adam Duvall
2B: Brandon Phillips
RF: Scott Schebler
3B: Eugenio Suarez
C: Tucker Barnhart
P: Homer Bailey
