Dodgers Vs. Diamondbacks Preview: Dan Haren Goes For The Sweep

The Los Angeles Dodgers have defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks in all four meetings this season and are going for another series sweep on Sunday. The Diamondbacks have largely struggled at the plate in the first two games of the series, while the Dodgers have reached double-digit hits in both games and scored at least six runs.

Dan Haren is making his third start this season and if his first two are any indication of what to expect, the Dodgers should be in prime position to take the series finale. Haren pitched 6.0 innings and allowed one run in each of his two outings this seasons, both of which resulted in Dodger wins. The 33-year-old pitcher had an inconsistent spring and after his first regular season start, said he felt as though he was now part of the team.

Haren won his only start against the Diamondbacks in 2013 as a member of the Washington Nationals. In the September game, which was played in Arizona, Haren went 7.0 innings, striking out five and shutting out the Diamondbacks to earn his 10th win of the season.

Starting for the Diamondbacks is Trevor Cahill, who faces the Dodgers for the second time this season. Cahill lasted just four innings in his first outing against the Dodgers and was roughed up to the tune of five runs. The result was a far cry from Cahill’s success against the Dodgers last season when he was 3-1 in four starts and allowed a combined six runs over the four games.

The right hander is 0-3 this season with a 7.90 ERA and has managed to make it past the fourth inning just once. The Dodgers got to Cahill for three runs within the first three innings of his March 22 start against them this season and given the Dodgers’ early success against Diamondback pitchers on Friday and Saturday, Cahill could be in for another rough outing.

One day after utilizing a lineup heavy on right-handed hitters, Sunday’s lineup resembles what’s been used for most of the season. A minor difference is Carl Crawford gets another day off as Andre Ethier is starting in left field. Dee Gordon is hitting .419 off right-handed pitchers this season and will get the chance to continue his success from the leadoff spot. Adrian Gonzalez, who has a career .450 average against Cahill in 20 at-bats, looks to extend his eight-game hitting streak.

The 1:10 PM PT start will be broadcasted on SportsNet LA, which remains hampered by limited availability. Time Warner Cable and other major cable providers have yet to agree on terms for the rights to carry the Dodgers’ network, leaving much of Los Angeles in the dark for the better portion of the 12 games played thus far.

Dodgers lineup

2B: Gordon

RF: Puig

SS: Ramirez

1B: Gonzalez

CF: Kemp

LF: Ethier

3B: Uribe

C: Federowicz

P: Haren

Diamondbacks lineup

RF: Parra

2B: Hill

1B: Goldschmidt

3B: Chavez

LF: Trumbo

CF: Pollock

SS: Owings

C: Gosewisch

P: Cahill
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