The Los Angeles Dodgers have blossomed into one of the top teams in the National League, but enter the week on edge as MVP-candidate Matt Kemp awaits news on his sore left hamstring. The All-Star center fielder, who has been battling hamstring soreness, had to leave last night’s game in the third inning to receive treatment.

It’s a good thing they’ve built such a lead in the west. After getting off to a hot start, the Arizona Diamondbacks have fallen hard back to earth and are now 8 1/2 back to the Dodgers. They try to gain some ground tonight as the team’s begin their early week series Monday night. The Dodgers are favored by 1 1/2 runs in Bovada’s Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers Betting Lines, with a -152 moneyline.

Arizona’s road trip might be the remedy to a miserable month that saw its woes at home continue. The Diamondbacks have lost nine of their last 12 and 12 of 15 at Chase Field and could use a little breathing room. Justin Upton’s .158 average in his last 10 games is just the tipping point for a struggling offense that has scored just three runs per with a .236 average.

“As a team, we need to get moving in the right direction,” manager Kirk Gibson told Arizona’s team website. “We are not playing good baseball. We need to right that part first.”

Ian Kennedy’s tough outing last week epitomized Arizona’s rough stretch. Despite starting the year hot, he has lost two-straight, including a six run beat down by the St. Louis Cardinals. It was the most runs Arizona’s ace has surrendered all year.

He will start opposite Los Angeles’ Clayton Kershaw, who has only lost once this year. Even then, he was great, giving up just two runs over eight innings in a 2-1 defeat to the San Francisco Giants.

Diamondback hitters are a lifetime .191 against Kershaw. Upton has struggled the most, going 0 for 18 with seven strikeouts.