51ºÚÁÏ

Gray and the Cardinals open a series against the Dodgers at 9:10 p.m. (51ºÚÁÏ time) Monday night at Dodger Stadium.

In his last start, the right-hander Gray (10-5, 4.38 ERA) allowed three earned runs in five innings on a soupy 51ºÚÁÏ night vs. Miami in which the moisture made it tough to grip pitches.

Gray has historically struggled in July while improving in August.

The weather in Los Angeles on Monday, with a first pitch temperature in the 70s and little humidity, should be far better for gripping pitches.

Gray will need every advantage vs. the defending champion Dodgers, who have the second-best on-base plus slugging percentage in baseball (.768) overall. At home, it's the best in the league (.822) by a significant margin.

Gray has had a rough go of it on the road this season, recording a 5.84 ERA in eight outings away from Busch including giving up eight earned runs at Arizona in his last one.

While he hasn't pitched there as a Cardinal, Gray has performed well at Dodger Stadium while his team struggles. He has a 3.07 ERA in five starts there, but his teams have gone 1-4 in them.

The Dodgers will start right-hander Tyler Glasnow (1-1, 3.38 ERA), an All-Star a year ago who missed more than two months with shoulder inflammation. He has a 2.45 ERA in four starts since returning from the IL.

Brendan Donovan, a late scratch Sunday due to a family emergency, is back in the lineup and batting leadoff.

Former Cardinal Tommy Edman was placed on the injured list Monday with a sprained ankle.

The Cardinals took two of three from the Dodgers in early June at Busch Stadium.

51ºÚÁÏ is 56-57 and has won just one of its last nine series, tying two of them and losing six.

The Dodgers lead the National League West by three games with a 65-47 mark.

Both teams have struggled over the past month. Since July 4, LA is 9-15. The Cardinals are 9-19 since June 30.

Dodgers claim Luken Baker off waivers; Cardinals claim pitcher

Before the game, the Cardinals announced that Triple-A first baseman Luken Baker had been claimed off waivers by the Dodgers and optioned to the organization's Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City.

Baker recorded eight hits in 34 at-bats with the Cardinals this season.

Additionally, the Cardinals claimed left-handed pitcher Anthony Veneziano off waivers from the Miami Marlins and optioned him to Triple-A Memphis.

Veneziano, 27, has a 4.71 ERA in 24 big-league games this season. The New Jersey native who came up with the Royals has 38 career MLB appearances.

How to watch Cardinals at Dodgers

When: 9:10 p.m. Monday

Where: Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles

TV/radio: FanDuel Sports Network Midwest (); KMOX (1120 AM and 104.1 FM), other stations in the as well as .

Your options to watch: Input your ZIP code and see your choices for watching Cardinals games.

Lineups

CARDINALS

1. Brendan Donovan, 2B

2. Iván Herrera, DH

3. Alec Burleson, LF

4. Willson Contreras, 1B

5. Lars Nootbaar, RF

6. Masyn Winn, SS

7. Thomas Saggese, 3B

8. Pedro Pagés, C

9. Victor Scott II, CF

P: Sonny Gray, RHP

DODGERS

1. Shohei Ohtani, DH

2. Mookie Betts, SS

3. Freddie Freeman, 1B

4. Will Smith, C

5. Max Muncy, 3B

6. Teoscar Hernández, RF

7. Michael Conforto, LF

8. Andy Pages, CF

9. Miguel Rojas, 2B

P: Tyler Glasnow, RHP

Injury report

John King, LHP (left oblique strain): King was placed on the 15-day injured list on July 30 after he left the previous night's game in the middle of an at-bat with left side tightness. Updated July 30

Nolan Arenado, 3B (right shoulder strain): Arenado went on the 10-day injured list Aug. 1 with a shoulder injury he’s spent the past month trying to play through. There is no timetable for his return. Updated Aug. 1

Zack Thompson, LHP (shoulder, lat strain): Lefty starter could begin a throwing program next week, Marmol said. Thompson has been sidelined since the start of March and was transferred to the 60-day injured list in early April. There is no timetable for his return to the mound. Updated July 24