SoCal MLB Preview

LA Dodgers (32-38) at Cincinnati (33-39), 4:10 pm

CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- After shoulder injuries wiped out two-fifths of the Los Angeles Dodgers' rotation for the immediate future on Tuesday, Chad Billingsley delivered a gem later in the evening. One day later, Derek Lowe hopes to follow his example. The Dodgers aim to continue their recent domination of the Reds when they continue their three-game set on Wednesday. In less than 24 hours Tuesday, Los Angeles lost ace Brad Penny to the 15-day disabled list with inflammation of the bursa sac and mild tendinitis in his right shoulder. Later in the day, the Dodgers sent righthander Hiroki Kuroda back to Los Angeles to have ailing right shoulder examined. Billingsley provided the Dodgers with a temporary reprieve as he struck out nine Reds over 6 1/3 innings Tuesday in a 3-1 win, snapping their five-game losing streak. The triumph gave the team its fifth win in six games this season against Cincinnati, allowing Los Angeles to win the season series. On Wednesday, the Dodgers will turn to Lowe (4-6, 4.03 ERA), who saw his start moved up a day - but will be pitching with normal rest - in light of Kuroda's MRI. The sinkerballer took the loss in his last outing, getting no help from his offense in Friday's 5-0 loss to Detroit when he allowed three runs - two earned - and eight hits over seven frames. He will be opposed by Bronson Arroyo (4-5, 5.31), who will be looking to halt a three-game winless drought. The righthander, who was limited by forearm cramps in his last start, did not factor into the decision in Thursday's 6-2 win over St. Louis despite yielding just two hits over six scoreless innings.

NY Mets vs. LA Angels, 7:05 pm

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Jerry Manuel's debut with the New York Mets did not go well. Manuel aims to record his first win as Mets' manager on Wednesday in the rubber game of a three-game series with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Manuel took the reins when Willie Randolph was fired early Tuesday morning. Randolph had been under intense scrutiny in the aftermath of last season's collapse and a mediocre start this season. But the first game without Randolph looked a lot like the previous 69. The Mets committed two costly errors and were held to six hits by John Lackey in a 6-1 loss. Manuel also got into a rift with shortstop Jose Reyes after he removed the 25-year-old in the first inning due to a strained left hamstring. Reyes did not want to leave the game and angrily protested. One of the reasons for the Mets' lackluster start to 2008 is Oliver Perez. A 15-game winner last season, Perez (5-4, 4.98 ERA) has been inconsistent this season, but is coming off a solid start. The lefthander allowed one run and three hits in seven innings of a 7-1 win over Texas on Friday. Anaheim will counter with Jon Garland (6-4, 4.13), who is looking to bounce back from one of his worst starts. Garland, who pitched for Manuel with the Chicago White Sox, allowed five runs and 12 hits in 5 2/3 innings of a 5-2 loss to Atlanta on Friday.