Major League Baseball

Dodgers-Reds preview

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 6:51 p.m. ET

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CINCINNATI -- The Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds continue their four-game set on Sunday afternoon at Great American Ball Park with the Dodgers looking to cool off the red-hot Reds who've taken the first two games of the series by a combined score of 20-3.

"It's fun to play against them," said Reds right fielder Scott Schebler, a former Dodgers prospect. "Getting to beat up on them, always better."

Cincinnati has won five straight and is 21-12 since the All-Star break.

Right-hander Anthony DeSclafani will make his 14th start of the season for Cincinnati. DeSclafani (7-1, 3.10 ERA) has produced 10 quality starts since coming off the disabled list on June 10.

DeSclafani began the season on the DL with a strained left oblique suffered in his final spring training appearance. He's came back stronger than ever with six straight quality starts from June 21 to July 20 a stretch in which he went 5-0 with a 2.59 ERA. He was the first Reds pitcher to produce at least six wins without a loss over his first nine starts of a season since Paul Wilson went 6-0 in his first nine starts in 2004.

Left-hander Julio Urias (3-2, 4.41 ERA) takes the mound for Los Angeles. He last pitched on Aug. 13, allowing three hits in 2 2/3 innings of relief. His last start came on Aug. 8 when he gave up three runs (one earned) on five hits in five innings in a 9-4 win over the Phillies.

As a starter, Urias is 2-2 with a 4.37 ERA with 22 earned runs allowed in 45 1/3 innings over 10 starts. He is facing the Reds for the first time.

Both teams are on the mend from recent injuries.

The Dodgers got some more encouraging news on ace Clayton Kershaw who threw more than 20 pitches off the mound on Saturday. "I thought it was successful," manager Dave Roberts said. "I thought the intensity was there. Very productive."

He'll throw again on Tuesday before determining if he's ready for a minor league rehabilitation stint. Kershaw is on the 60-day disabled list with a herniated disk.

Cincinnati still is without shortstop Zack Cozart, who's expected to miss another game or two with discomfort in his right knee and left Achilles. In order to fortify its bench, the Reds recalled Jose Peraza from Triple-A Louisville. Peraza had three hits including a homer and three RBIs on Saturday in his return to the big leagues.

"I wasn't comfortable with a three-man bench so we brought Peraza up," said Reds manager Bryan Price. "He'll get some starts at short. We can move him around."

The Reds also welcomed back left fielder Adam Duvall, who hit a three-run homer on the second pitch he saw on Saturday after missing four games after fouling a pitch off his left foot on Monday.

Cincinnati got seven innings of one-hit baseball from left-hander Brandon Finnegan on Saturday, which should set things up well for Sunday's game.

"Our bullpen should be fresh going into (Sunday's) game," Price said.