The Dodgers have a comfortable lead in the National League West with more than three weeks remaining in the regular season, so they are not taking any chances when it comes to the health of their players as they gear up for the postseason.

The Dodgers scratched Hyun-Jin Ryu from his Friday start against the Reds due to a stiff back and will instead send Chris Capuano to the mound for the opener of a three-game series in Cincinnati.

The Reds, meanwhile, enter the series after taking three of four against the NL Central-rival Cardinals, moving them to within three games of the division-leading Pirates and just 1 1/2 of the Cards. Cincinnati, winner of five of the last eight, has a seven-game cushion as the second NL Wild Card and some momentum heading into September.

The Dodgers are two games behind the Braves for the best record in the NL, but manager Don Mattingly doesn't believe the reward of home-field advantage in the postseason is worth the risk of pushing his players too hard in pursuit of Atlanta.