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LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Dodgers resume their pursuit of the top spot in the National League West with a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks beginning Friday at Dodger Stadium.The Dodgers (57-45), who lost two of three to the Diamondbacks following the All-Star break, have gone 16-9 in their last 25 games and made up ground on the struggling NL West-leading San Francisco Giants. San Franciscos advantage in the division has dwindled from 6 1/2 games at the All-Star break to two. The Giants (59-43) have dropped 10 of 12 since the break.Dodgers right-hander Kenta Maeda (9-7, 3.25 ERA), who starts Friday, was knocked around for five runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings in a 6-5 Arizona decision July 17 in Phoenix.However, Maeda bounced back Saturday in St. Louis against the Cardinals, holding them to two runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings in a 7-2 victory by the Dodgers. Maeda fanned three and didnt walk a batter on 92 pitches.I think hes exceeded our expectations, manager Dave Roberts said of Maeda, who is in his first season in the majors after pitching for eight campaigns in Japan. Hes pitched in some big games and thrown really well and you cant expect him to be great every time out. But I think that under all the circumstances, the adjustments, Kentas been fantastic. Every time he takes the ball we feel good about it.He does a great job of taking care of himself, very athletic, does a lot of things on the field to help you win baseball games.Right-hander Zack Godley (3-1, 5.88), who has never started against Los Angeles, takes the ball for the Diamondbacks. Godley earned a win against the Reds in his last start Sunday despite surrendering five runs in 5 2/3 innings.The Diamondbacks (42-60), though, have stumbled since winning the Dodgers series. Arizona has lost seven of its last nine, dropping three of four to the Milwaukee Brewers, including a 6-4 defeat Thursday.The lone win against the Brewers was an 8-1 rout Wednesday.That was a great game today. We hit a couple of home runs and put a lot of runs on the board early, Diamondbacks shortstop Jean Segura said.The Dodgers, who were off Thursday, had their three-game winning streak snapped Wednesday in a 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. The Dodgers, who split the two-game series with Tampa Bay, managed only four hits against Rays starter Matt Moore.Moore was good and kept us off-balance and made pitches when he needed to, Roberts said. We just really couldnt stress him.Diamondbacks ace Zack Greinke wont pitch against his former club during this trip. Greinke is on the 15-day disabled list with a left oblique strain. Jordan Oesterle Jersey . Speaking to the Chicago Tribune at baseballs Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Boras called the former home of the Expos a "tremendous environment" for baseball. Keith Tkachuk Jersey . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. https://www.cheapcoyotes.com/1238z-robbie-russo-jersey-coyotes.html . The next step is a better finish. Bae played bogey-free Friday on another gorgeous day at Riviera for a 5-under 66, giving him a one-shot lead over Aaron Baddeley and Robert Garrigus going into the weekend. Michael Grabner Jersey . Brazilian national coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has confirmed that the veteran goalkeeper is set to join Toronto on loan, saying it will help him be ready for the World Cup. Carl Soderberg Jersey .com) - The Montreal Canadiens will try to halt their longest losing streak of the season when they host the struggling New York Islanders in tonights clash at the Bell Centre. HOOVER, Ala. -- Alabama is once again the favorite to win the Southeastern Conference, while LSU, Tennessee, Mississippi and the rest of the league try to figure out a way to derail the Tide.The Crimson Tides title defense is one of several things to watch next season that was discussed during SEC media days, along with Tennessees resurgence as the favorite in the leagues Eastern Division.Three new coaches were introduced at the meetings that ended Thursday -- South Carolinas Will Muschamp, Missouris Barry Odom and Georgias Kirby Smart -- while LSU running back Leonard Fournette, Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly and Tennessee signal-caller Joshua Dobbs were among the most sought-after player interviews.There was also the notable absence of veteran SEC coaches Steve Spurrier and Mark Richt.Spurrier -- known as much for his quick one-liners as his success on the field -- retired last season after 23 years in the league with Florida and most recently South Carolina. Richt was fired by Georgia after 15 seasons in November and is now at Miami.Heres a little more of what was discussed during SEC media days and what to look for next season:TENNESSEE ON THE RISE: Tennessee was voted by the leagues media as the overwhelming favorite to win the SECs Eastern Division. That might seem surprising since the Volunteers havent won their division since 2007, but they have amassed a lot of talent in Knoxville over the past few years. It also helps that the East is full of uncertainty with three new coaches at South Carolina, Georgia and Missouri.Said coach Butch Jones: Thats why you play, is to be in a program like the University of Tennessee where everybody is talking about you. Thats what you work for. Now its what you do with that opportunity.MISSOURIS CHALLENGES: Odom, Missouris first-year coach, stepped to the podium at SEC media days less than 24 hours after finding out that the man who hired him was no longer with the school. Mack Rhoades resigned as Missouris athletic director on Wednesday to take the same job at Baylor. Odom is under contract for five seasons with an annual salary of $2.35 million, but it is more uncertaintty next season for a school thats been the site of constant strife.ddddddddddddLAW & ORDER: Several Auburn and Alabama players arent expected to miss playing time next season despite their legal problems during the offseason. Tide coach Nick Saban said left tackle Cam Robinson and reserve defensive back Hootie Jones are doing community service and police ride-alongs after a drug and weapons arrest. The charges were eventually dropped.Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said four of his players who were arrested on misdemeanor drug charges, including defensive end Byron Cowart and starting cornerback Carlton Davis, wont miss any time either.OLE MISS INVESTIGATION: The Ole Miss football program has been under NCAA investigation for the better part of four years and the case looks like it could drag into 2017. Coach Hugh Freeze was peppered with NCAA questions during SEC media days, but couldnt provide many answers because the investigation is ongoing. The school has already self-imposed some penalties, including scholarship reductions and three years of probation.Freeze defended his program: I have zero interest in cutting corners to be successful, and our staff knows that very well. I have a lot of things that Im not very good at, but that is not a temptation.BIELEMA CHARM: The evolution of Arkansas Bret Bielema from angry new coach to one of the SECs class clowns has been interesting to watch. Bielema drew several laughs during his appearance on Wednesday thanks to self-depreciating humor and funny anecdotes. One likely reason the fourth-year coach is in a better mood: The Razorbacks are relevant again in the SEC Western Division. Arkansas finished with an 8-5 record in 2015, including a 5-3 mark in the league.Said Bielema: At Arkansas, were not built very sexy, were just kind of a work in progress. We need a lot of time in the bathroom to get ready and come out and look great.---Follow David Brandt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbrandtAP---AP College Football Website: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '