The Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Dodgers are both set to open a three-game series Monday night at Dodger Stadium

Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles Dodgers

Cincinnati is 2-2 in starting its West Coast road trip, but many in the clubhouse are disappointed with the result.  “We had action on every ballgame,” said Reds manager Dusty Baker.  “You want to get greedy and win every game that you feel you have a chance in or should win.”  The Reds were knotted at 2-2 heading into the seventh inning, but the bullpen wasn’t up to the task in allowing two runs in the frame and ultimately dropping Sunday’s contest, 4-2.  Offensively, the team is hoping to snap a five-game homerless streak, which is the club’s longest this season.  The team still possesses the fourth-most home runs in the National League.  Cincinnati is 18-14 following a loss this season and 27-26 versus right-handed starters.

Reds starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo is 4-6 with a 5.28 ERA in 13 starts this season and the club has alternated wins and losses over his last three outings.  The right-hander has registered a 2-1 mark and 5.68 ERA in five road starts, allowing 40 hits in 25 1/3 innings, as opposing hitters are batting .354 against him.  Arroyo has tallied a 3-4 record and 6.08 ERA in nine nighttime appearances compared to a 1-2 mark and 3.90 ERA in four daytime outings.  In 13 career appearances (12 starts) versus the Dodgers, he has registered an even 4-4 record and 3.84 ERA.

Los Angeles opens up a 12-game homestand Monday night and earned a 5-5 record on its recently completed 10-game road trip.  The Dodgers sit in fourth place in the National League West, 6 1/2 games out of the top spot.  “I looked at our trip in general and knew it would be a rough trip,” said Dodgers manager Don Mattingly.  “We knew it had a chance to be a disaster if we didn’t play well.”  The club’s offense generated plenty of runs away from Dodger Stadium, batting .311 for the trip and scoring at least 10 runs three times, but will be hard-pressed to continue that success at home.  Los Angeles is batting just .239 at home during the 2011 campaign.  Putting together win streaks has also been difficult this season, posting an 11-18 mark after a win.

Dodgers starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda is 5-7 with a 3.35 ERA in 13 starts this season and will be looking to snap a four-game losing streak.  Over that particular span, Los Angeles’ offense has managed to provide just five runs of support, as he’s allowed 14 runs (12 earned) and 29 hits over 22 1/3 innings.  Kuroda will be toeing the rubber at Dodger Stadium for the seventh time this year, coming in with a losing 2-3 mark and 3.99 ERA.  In four career starts versus the Reds, he is 3-1 with a 2.55 ERA, while dropping a 2-1 road contest against them on June 3.

Bettors will likely back the Reds due to their 5-0 record during Game 1 of a series, while the Dodgers are 4-10 in their last 14 home games versus right-handed starters