One night after striking out four times against the Angels, Matt Kemp was dropped to fifth in the batting order on Tuesday night as the Dodgers conclude their five-game homestand against the Halos.
Kemp hasn't batted as low as fifth since Sept. 27, 2010. In 2013, a season in which Kemp is hitting just .253/.304/.333, Kemp has started 28 games batting third, 17 games batting fourth, and two games batting second. Kemp is 5-for-37 (.135) in his last 10 games with 19 strikeouts and three walks.
After the game Monday night manager Don Mattingly was asked about Kemp hitting lower in the lineup as he is slumping.
"We're going to need Matt. We've seen that lesson over the years. I just don't give up on that. I'm not going to give up on Matt," Mattingly said. "Matt's going to get going. At certain times I will hit him in different spots trying to take a little pressure off of him and things like that. That's another day."
That other day is Tuesday.
Nick Punto is also out of the starting lineup, one night after suffering a bone bruise in his back on a play at second base. Luis Cruz starts at shortstop, his first time starting consecutive games since the doubleheader in Baltimore on Apr. 20.
Juan "Papi" Uribe, he of the .389 on-base percentage and four-game doubles streak, gets the start at third base against old friend Joe Blanton for the Angels. Uribe also has a five-game hitting streak, during which he is hitting .500 (7-for-14).
Game info
Time: 7:10 p.m.
TV: KCAL, Fox Sports West, ESPN