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Dodgers-Reds Preview

Aug 28, 2009 - 2:16 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Los Angeles (75-52) at Cincinnati (54-71), 7:10 p.m. EDT

After some tough series, the Los Angeles Dodgers could use a break as they try to increase their lead in the NL West. A three-game set with the Cincinnati Reds should fit the bill.

Coming off two straight key victories, the Dodgers look to win their 10th in a row over the Reds on Friday night in Cincinnati.

Los Angeles (76-52) stopped surging Colorado by winning the last two of a three-game series at Coors field, earning a 3-2 victory in the finale Thursday to open a four-game lead in the NL West.

The Dodgers were coming off a seven-game homestand in which they won three of four against the struggling Chicago Cubs but dropped two of three to NL Central-leading St. Louis.

"We're trying to enhance our record," Los Angeles manager Joe Torre said. "We hold our fate in our own hands and if we take care of business ourselves then we don't have to look around for help."

The next two weeks should give the Dodgers somewhat of a breather, as they follow their series against the Cincinnati (55-71) with nine games against Arizona and San Diego - the bottom two clubs in the West. They should be particularly confident against the Reds, having won nine straight in the series since an 8-1 road loss April 22, 2008.

Los Angeles is averaging 6.2 runs versus Cincinnati while posting a 2.11 ERA during that stretch.

The Dodgers' Chad Billingsley (12-7, 3.73 ERA), who will start the series opener, has been outstanding in four starts versus Cincinnati, going 3-1 with a 1.48 ERA while striking out 26 in 24 1-3 innings. He has never allowed a home run to the Reds.

In his last outing, Billingsley gave up three runs and nine hits in six innings of Los Angeles' 3-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Sunday. The right-hander had been 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA in his previous three outings.

The Reds will counter with Homer Bailey (3-4, 6.82), who is coming off his most impressive outing of the season. The right-hander allowed one run and four hits over seven innings in Cincinnati's 4-1 victory at Pittsburgh on Sunday. It marked the first time the former top prospect limited an opponent to fewer than two runs since 2007.

Bailey now must return home, where he is 1-2 with a 7.13 ERA.

He was also terrible in his only previous start against the Dodgers, surrendering a career-high nine runs - six earned - and eight hits in 2 2-3 innings of a 12-3 loss July 21.

Starter Justin Lehr yielded four first-inning runs Thursday, but Cincinnati managed to complete a three-game sweep of Milwaukee by rallying for an 8-5 victory. The Reds have matched a season-high with four straight wins, averaging 6.0 runs during that stretch.

Scott Rolen drove in two runs with a single to give Cincinnati a 6-4 lead against the Brewers. Rolen, acquired in a deadline-day trade with Toronto, is 7 for 19 with three RBIs since returning Sunday from a concussion suffered when he was hit by a pitch Aug. 2.

Though the Reds are 13-26 since the All-Star break, they've won all six games in which Rolen has played.

"I've had results, that's good, but I need to get back in there, see the ball a little bit and get some timing - make sure my head's on straight, so to speak," said Rolen, who is 2 for 5 lifetime against Billingsley.