The Dodgers are back at it after four days off, opening up a road trip against a reeling Diamondbacks team that hopes the All-Star break was more of a reset button for their disappointing season.
Arizona has lost four straight games and 12 of their last 14 contests, and after winning the offseason find themselves in last place in the National League West (38-52), 19 games behind San Francisco and 12½ games back of the Dodgers.
The club's signature acquisition over the winter, Zack Greinke, is currently on the disabled list with tightness in his left oblique, and won't pitch against his old teammates. Arizona's second-largest addition in the offseason, Shelby Miller, was optioned to Triple-A on Thursday after a 7.14 ERA in 14 starts.
To make matters worse, the Diamondbacks are just 15-32 at Chase Field in 2016, the second-worst home record in baseball, ahead of only Atlanta.
The Diamondbacks have allowed an astonishing 6.88 runs per game in their last 17 games, with opponents hitting .306/.378/.518 against them during that span.
Arizona's success at Chase Field this season has in many ways looked like that of Bud Norris in Arizona throughout his career. The right-hander is 0-4 with five career games in Phoenix, though his last start at Chase Field came way back in 2012. Since then, Norris has made only two relief appearances in Arizona, retiring one batter.
Against the Diamondbacks in his career, Norris is 0-7 with a 13.92 ERA in eight games, including five starts, but again has barely faced them in the last four seasons, with only three total relief appearances against the Diamondbacks since the start of 2013.
The Dodgers have beaten the Diamondbacks in four of their six games this season, winning series in both Los Angeles and Phoenix. In both series, the Dodgers lost the first game, then won the next two contests.
Los Angeles is 11-18 in the opening game of series in 2016, including 4-10 on the road.
Game info
Time: 6:40 p.m. PT
TV: SportsNet LA