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(Sports Network) - Southpaw Eric Stults steps in to make his 2008 debut for a battered Los Angeles pitching staff today when the Dodgers visit Great American Ball Park to wrap up a three-game National League series with the host Cincinnati Reds.

A 15th-round draft choice in 2002, the 28-year-old Stults reached the majors and made six appearances with the Dodgers in 2006, then returned to pitch 12 times -- five starts -- with the big club in 2007.

Overall, he's 2-4 with a 5.75 earned run average in 56 1/3 innings.

He's getting the call after a series of injuries to Los Angeles pitchers. That includes right shoulder inflammation and mild tendinitis suffered by Brad Penny and a potentially similar problem troubling Hiroki Kuroda, who was scheduled to start against the Reds Wednesday but instead underwent an MRI exam on his right shoulder.

Derek Lowe stepped in for Kuroda Wednesday and pitched on his routine four days' rest because of the team's off day on Monday.

The Reds will counter with veteran staff ace Aaron Harang, who's led the team in victories for two straight seasons, but is off to just a 3-9 start through 16 appearances this year.

Harang, who is 2-3 lifetime against Los Angeles, had lost four consecutive decisions before downing Boston, 3-1, on June 13 after allowing just four hits and a run in seven innings with seven strikeouts. His last win prior to that start came one month and one day earlier, when he beat Florida, 8-7, on May 12.

The 30-year-old San Diego native is 2-3 with a 3.40 ERA in eight home starts this season.

On Wednesday, James Loney went 2-for-3 with a home run and two runs batted in, and the Dodgers cruised past the Reds, 6-1.

Juan Pierre went 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI for the Dodgers, who have won two straight after a a five-game losing streak. Andre Ethier went 3-for-4 and knocked in a run, while Blake DeWitt doubled and scored.

Lowe (5-6) held the Reds to a run on three hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out six and walking two, to pick up his first road win of the season.

Edwin Encarnacion homered for the Reds, who saw their losing streak run to four games.

Bronson Arroyo (4-6), Lowe's teammate on the 2004 Boston Red Sox, allowed all six runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 frames to take the loss. Arroyo fanned six and walked just one.

The Dodgers have won six of seven meetings with the Reds this season and are 20-6 in the series since the start of the 2005 campaign.