Dan Haren starts opener for Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers conclude their season series with the reeling Diamondbacks, now without a general manager after Kevin Towers was fired on Friday morning.

The Dodgers are 12-4 against Arizona this season, assured of at least their fourth-best seasonal record against the Diamondbacks in Arizona's 17 years of existence.

The best record came in 2004, when the Dodgers were 16-3 against the 111-loss Diamondbacks.

Dan Haren gets the call in the series opener, looking for a third straight quality start, something he hasn't done since May. After hitting rock bottom with a 10.03 ERA during a five-game losing streak from July 5 to Aug. 1, Haren has turned things around. In his last five starts Haren is 3-1 with a 2.15 ERA with 23 strikeouts and five walks, and three home runs allowed, half as much as during his five-game losing streak.

If Haren lasts four innings or longer tonight, he will reach 160 innings, triggering a $250,000 bonus. To date Haren has earned $750,000 of his potential $3 million in contract incentives.

Haren in four starts against Arizona this season, the last in June, has allowed 16 runs and 35 hits in 25⅓ innings, but is 3-1 thanks in part to the Dodgers scoring 25 runs in those games.

The Dodgers have averaged 5.5 runs per game against the Diamondbacks this season, though the bulk of that damage has come on the road. In Phoenix (eight games) and Sydney (two games), the Dodgers in 2014 hit .279/.362/.459 while averaging 6.1 runs per game. In the six games at Dodger Stadium against Arizona, the club is averaging 4.5 runs per game while hitting .240/.323/.372.

Vidal Nuno gets the start for the Diamondbacks. The return in the Brandon McCarthy trade with the Yankees, Nuno has been effective with Arizona. The left-hander has allowed two or fewer runs in each of his last four starts, and in six of his last 10 starts.

Nuno has a 3.23 ERA in his 10 starts, but is 0-4 and the Diamondbacks have lost nine of the 10 games thanks to 18 runs scored with Nuno in the game.

The Dodgers are 23-12 against left-handed starters this season, the best mark in the National League.

Game info

Time: 7:10 p.m. PT

TV: SportsNet LA, MLB Network