Dan Haren improved his record to 4-0 today in the first game
of a doubleheader at Minnesota as the Dodgers pounded out 15 hits enroute to a
9-4 rout.
Coupled with last night’s 6-4 win over the Twins, the
Dodgers have moved a game back of the Giants in the NL West.
After the first month of the season it appears the race is
going to be an intense one. San Francisco and Colorado have both come out of
the gates strong with all three teams bunched in the standings with only a game
or two separating the three.
Zack Greinke improved his record to 5-0 last night and the
Dodgers received more good news when Clayton Kershaw completed his second rehab
start in the minors and is expected to rejoin the parent club on Monday.
Kershaw rejoins a pitching staff that includes Greinke,
Hyun-Jin Ryu, Haren, Josh Beckett and Paul Maholm. The Dodgers have a strong
rotation but it’s the bullpen that has kept Don Mattingly scratching his head.
Closer Kenley Jansen and setup man Brian Wilson have been
shaky at times and middle relievers Brandon League, J.P. Howell Chris Perez and
Chris Withrow have been inconsistent. The Dodgers recalled Paco Rodriguez up
from minors yesterday and he promptly gave up three runs in the ninth inning.
In today’s first game of the doubleheader Yasiel Puig and
Juan Uribe each had four hits to pace the Dodger attack.
Puig, along with Matt Kemp, Carl Crawford, Andre Ethier and
Scott Van Slyke have been platooning in the outfield. Baseball analysts say the
platoon system won’t work and prevents players from getting into a hitting
rhythm.
On the other hand, Mattingly can play the matchups every
time he fills out his lineup card and usually sits Ethier and Crawford against
lefties.
Dee Gordon (.326), Puig (.308), Adrian Gonzalez (.320) and
Juan Uribe (.327) are all off to good starts and Van Slyke (.281), Kemp (.224)
and Ethier (.241) have started to warm up.
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