Dodgers open home series with Reds

LOS ANGELES — In another scheduling quirk, the Dodgers say hello and goodbye to another National League Central team within a little over a week. This time, it is the Cincinnati Reds, who are in town this weekend for three games at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers play three games against the Reds this weekend, then next weekend as part of their Pretenders road trip will play the Reds three more times at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati.

The NL Central has been weird this season, with the champion Cubs yet to take charge. The Reds are hanging around near .500, and enter Friday just two games out of first place in the division, behind the Brewers and Chicago.

The Reds come to town having won four straight games — all against the Cardinals, who are a mess -- but are just 10-15 on the road this season.

Old friend Scott Schebler has been a pleasant surprise for the Reds, hitting .249/.324/.554 with a league-leading 17 home runs in 55 games so far this season. Schebler returned to the lineup the last two games after missing three games injuring his shoulder trying to make a catch in the outfield.

Left-hander Rich Hill takes the mound for the Dodgers on Friday night, looking to pitch into the sixth inning for the first time this season. Hill is averaging just 4⅓ innings per start this season, and even if you remove his Apr. 16 start that he left early with blister problems is still averaging just 4.6 innings.

Dodgers starting pitchers — Hyun-jin Ryu, Brandon McCarthy, and Clayton Kershaw — all pitched seven innings against the Nationals earlier this week.

The Dodgers have won 11 of their last 13 games against the Reds, and 15 of their last 21 against them, dating back to the beginning of the 2014 season. That includes six straight wins against Cincinnati at Dodger Stadium, dating back to 2015.

Game info

Time: 7:10 p.m. PT

TV: SportsNet LA