ON DECK

Opponent--Cincinnati Reds, three games.

* Site--Dodger Stadium.

* Tonight--7.

* TV--Fox West Sports 2, tonight and Wednesday.

* Radio--KABC (790), KWKW (1330).

* Records--Dodgers 16-12, Cincinnati 9-20.

* Record vs. Reds-- (1996) 8-4.

DODGERS’ HIDEO NOMO (3-2, 3.5 ERA) vs. REDS’ KENT MERCKER (1-3, 5.75 ERA)

* UPDATE: After winning two of three games from the Cubs--the worst team in baseball--the Dodgers face the second-worst team in the National League. Cincinnati has struggled, losing a franchise-record 18 games in April. The Reds have lost 13 of 17 road games. After opening a nine-game, 10-day trip with consecutive victories over the Giants, they lost, 2-1, in 10 innings Sunday at San Francisco. The Reds have the worst earned-run average (5.91) and the highest batting average (.286) in baseball. Deion Sanders leads the National League with 20 stolen bases and is tied for the league lead in triples. Sanders also ranks among the league leaders in batting average, hits, multi-hit games and total bases.

* Tuesday, 7 p.m.--Pedro Astacio (3-0, 2.13) vs. Dave Burba (3-2, 7.57).

* Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.--Ramon Martinez (2-2, 4.43) vs. Pete Schourek (1-2, 7.02).