SoCal MLB Preview

LA Dodgers (4-4) at Arizona (6-2), 12:40 pm
PHOENIX (Ticker) - The Arizona Diamondbacks look to ride the scorching hot bat of Mark Reynolds to a three-game series sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday. Doug Davis threw six effective innings and Reynolds blasted a three-run homer in the first inning as the Diamondbacks posted a 10-5 victory on Tuesday. It was the fifth home run in as many games for Reynolds, who hit a pair of home runs in Monday's 9-3 win over Los Angeles. Reynolds has been the driving force behind a Diamondbacks team that has won five straight and leads the majors with 17 home runs. Micah Owings (1-0, 1.35 ERA) hopes the offensive surge continues. The 25-year-old righthander was terrific in his first start of the season - allowing one run and two hits in 6 2/3 innings with a career high nine strikeouts during an 8-1 victory over Colorado on Friday. The Dodgers, who have lost three of four, will counter with Hiroki Kuroda. The righthander, who signed a three-year $35 million deal in the offseason, did not disappoint in his season debut. Kuroda, 32, allowed one run and three hits in seven innings, but did not get a decision in a 7-1 victory over San Diego on Friday.


Cleveland (4-4) at LA Angels (5-4), 12:35 pm
ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are already feeling the absence closer Francisco Rodriguez, and he's only missed one game. The Angels look to bounce back from a late-inning loss when they conclude a three-game series with the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday. Rodriguez, who has been experiencing soreness in both ankles, blew a save on Monday, allowing three runs while retiring just one batter in the Angels' 6-4 win over the Cleveland Indians. The 26-year-old righthander was kept out of Tuesday's game and watched from the bench as Justin Speier surrendered a two-run home run to Travis Hafner in the top of the ninth inning as the Angels dropped a 4-3 decision to the Indians. The loss snapped a streak of 162 consecutive victories by Los Angeles when leading after the eighth inning. "It was an impressive streak, and just wish we could have kept it going," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. Dustin Moseley (0-1, 9.00 ERA) tries to get Los Angeles back on track when he takes the mound on Tuesday. The 26-year-old righthander, who is filling in for injured regulars John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar, allowed five runs and and six hits in five innings, enduring a 11-6 loss to the Texas Rangers on Friday. Indians righthander Paul Byrd (0-1, 6.23) is also searching for his first win of the season on Wednesday after surrendering five runs, three earned, and eight hits in just 4 1/3 innings en route to a 6-3 setback to the Oakland Athletics on Friday.