The hottest team in baseball takes on the weakest team in baseball as the Dodger try to sweep another series. Winners of 10 of their last 11 games and 13 of their last 16 since April 30th the Dodgers continue to make the move from last place under achievers the best team in the NL.

Some quick Joe Torre notes:

• Andre is on the DL and the media asked every which way every question they could about the fractured pinky. The end result of the myriad of questions is that he's on the 15 day DL, they hope when they do the xrays in a couple of weeks it will have healed enough for him to play. They don't know. They hope. Andre himself said the pain has already subsided alot from when he first injured it.
• They are going to replace him by feel but when Joe elaborated I still think Paul and Johnson will see most of the at bats.
• Regarding the off day on Monday and skipping Ramon he said it depends on how hard the regular rotation works this week. If they need an extra day they will use Ramon, if not then they might consider skipping him.
• The eight game winning streak was all about pitching from both the starters and the bullpen
• Martin will remain in the lead off spot even when Paul starts
• Padilla is feeling no pain and threw today. With the number of rehab starts they expect him to make it will still be June before he's ready to come off the DL.
• They like Alfredo Amezaga and if he's 100% they hope to use him on the team when he's ready.

Andre was very media friendly and did a pow wow with everyone after the Torre pre game session. I have some video but not sure how the sound worked. He basically answered the same mundane questions they asked Joe. What can he say, his pinky hurts, he doesn't know when it will be pain free enough to hit. Yes, he's bummed it happened.

Other Dodger Notes:

Los Angeles has won eight consecutive games for the first time since winning eight in a row from April 11-19 of last season. The last time the Dodgers ripped off a nine-game winning streak was when they won 11 consecutive games from July 28-Aug. 11, 2006.

The Dodgers and Phillies are a Major League-best 12-3 in the month of May.  

STRONG ARMS – Last night, the Dodgers allowed three or fewer runs for the eighth straight game, the first time they have done so while winning all eight contests since June 10-18, 2003. The run also ties the longest such streak for any team managed by Joe Torre in his 29 seasons as a big-league manager. Torre’s 1998 Yankees pulled off this feat from June 2-10 of that year in the midst of a nine-game winning streak and on their way to 114 wins.

Dodger pitchers have posted a 1.75 ERA (14 ER /72.0 IP) and limited opposing hitters to a .175 average (44-for-251) with 75 strikeouts during their eight-game winning streak that began on May 9. Dodger pitching leads the Major Leagues in all three categories over that time.

Los Angeles hurlers have held the opposition without an extra base in consecutive games for the first time since Sept. 5-6, 2008.

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