Hanley Ramirez looks to stay hot in desert

Just 20 days after facing off in another continent, the Dodgers and Diamondbacks are back in the U.S. for the first of two straight weekend series against each other. The first encounter is in Phoenix, beginning Friday night with Hanley Ramirez looking to stay hot.

The Dodgers shortstop began the year 1-for-15, but rides into Arizona on a six-game hitting streak, hitting .391 (9-for-23) with four doubles and two home runs during that span.

In his last game in Phoenix, Ramirez had four hits, including two home runs helping the Dodgers clinch the National League West. In five games at Chase Field in 2013, Ramirez was 11-for-22 (.500) with three home runs, a double and four walks, and in his career in Arizona has hit .370/.433/.543.

Ramirez has never faced Brandon McCarthy, who gets the start on Friday for the Diamondbacks. The only Dodgers with double-digit plate appearances in their career against McCarthy are Carl Crawford (7-for-24, all singles, .292) and Chone Figgins (7-for-18, .389, with two walks).

Yasiel Puig, whose pinch-hit appearance Wednesday night was his first appearance since jamming his left thumb on Saturday, is 2-for-3 with a double and a home run against McCarthy, the only home run against the right-hander by active Dodgers.

Hyun-jin Ryu starts for the Dodgers, one week after allowing eight runs in two innings in the worst start of his career. In his career on six or more days rest, Ryu is 2-2 with a 3.56 ERA in seven starts, with 31 strikeouts and nine walks in 43 innings.

Ryu pitched five scoreless innings against Arizona in Sydney on March 23.

Paul Goldschmidt, 8-for-16 (.500) with two doubles, a home run and a walk against Ryu, picked up right where he left off last season. The Diamondbacks first baseman is hitting .370/.434/.630 with six doubles and two home runs in 12 games this season. He has a pair of multi-hit games against the Dodgers in Australia, and has an eight-game hitting streak against them, hitting .485 (16-for-33) with four doubles and two home runs during that span.

Notes

• Mike Baxter, who was designated for assignment on Sunday, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Albuquerque on Wednesday.
• Seth Rosin, the Rule 5 pick by the Mets from the Phillies and traded to the Dodgers, who made the trip to Australia and spent two days on the Dodgers' active roster, and who was claimed off waivers by and pitched in three games in relief for the Rangers, cleared waivers on Friday and was sent by Texas back the Phillies for $25,000, half of the Rule 5 draft fee.
  
• Old friend Randy Wolf, who left the Mariners after objecting to their contractual shenanigans, signed a minor-league deal on Friday with the Diamondbacks.
• The Dodgers have reportedly reached agreement with 17-year-old Alvaro Rubi of Nicaragua, signed by scout Nemesio Porras, per La Prensa.
  

Game info

Time: 6:40 p.m. PT

TV: SportsNet LA