By , Taylor Bechtold
Published September 29, 2015
While they still own a comfortable lead in the NL West, the slumping Los Angeles Dodgers are in danger of losing their hold on home-field advantage in the playoffs.
They're also on the verge of their longest losing streak at Dodger Stadium in two years, and they won't have Zack Greinke on the mound Wednesday night to try to help them get back on track.
The All-Star right-hander was scratched hours before this game due to soreness in his calf, leaving Carlos Frias to take his place against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Los Angeles (85-65) had its division lead cut to six games after Tuesday's 8-0 loss and San Francisco's win. However, the club remains in the driver's seat to win a third straight title with 12 games remaining.
The Dodgers, however, are clinging to a half-game edge on East-leading New York in the race for home-field advantage in a potential division series matchup. Now they're looking to avoid matching their longest skid of the season and longest home slide since May 1-10, 2013.
"We haven't won anything yet. This is time for us to buckle down and play better than we did in the last four games," catcher A.J. Ellis said.
Frias (5-5, 4.27 ERA) will be making his first start since a two-plus month stay on the disabled list due to a back injury. He pitched two scoreless innings Sunday against Pittsburgh in his return.
The right-hander is 1-0 with a 2.12 ERA in three starts against Arizona this season.
Paul Goldschmidt is 3 for 7 when facing Frias in 2015, and he homered for the second straight night Tuesday when Arizona won for only the third time in 16 games at Chavez Ravine. He's batting .388 with 11 homers and 26 RBIs in his last 22 meetings.
A.J. Pollock added his 18th home run and has a .400 average over an 11-game hitting streak. Rookie Brandon Drury has gone 5 for 9 with a home run, double and four RBIs in this series.
The Diamondbacks (73-78) are seeking their fifth win in the first six of this 10-game road trip.
Chase Anderson (6-6, 4.52) had been removed from the rotation after allowing five runs and two homers over two-plus innings in a 6-2 home loss to San Francisco on Sept. 8. The right-hander, though, has been working with pitching coach Mike Harkey over the past two weeks, and hopes to make the most of another opportunity after impressing in Friday's simulated game.
"Chase looked good," manager Chip Hale said. "He got better and better."
Anderson is 1-1 with a 3.95 ERA in five career starts against the Dodgers. He yielded two hits and struck out seven over six innings in a 1-0 win at Chavez Ravine on May 3. Adrian Gonzalez is 4 for 9 with a home run off him, while Yasmani Grandal has three homers in eight at-bats.
The Dodgers, however, have batted .176 and totaled nine runs during their losing streak after they managed three singles off Robbie Ray and three relievers Tuesday.
Arizona shortstop Nick Ahmed's status is uncertain after he left Tuesday's game because of a jammed lower back.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/greinke-scratched-d-backs-seek-third-straight-win