Penny's performance has tailed off a bit from his hot start. The 3 runs he gave up in each of his last two starts are fine. The real scare comes in the drop-off in K's: he has only struck out one batter in his last two starts (13 innings). Hopefully this is just a random fluctuation in his output. Or has he stopped throwing the splitter? I don't know and I can't tell when I'm watching the game, but I can only think of one reason why he would quit throwing it: arm pain. I pray that this is not the case.
Speaking of not striking guys out, Odalis Perez has struck out no more than four in any start so far this year. His WHIP is 1.56 for the season. It's too bad he couldn't be our #4 starter, where he'd look pretty good. Orlando Hernandez (who we've already beaten this year) has a WHIP of 1.35, and he's struck out 8, 6, 8, 4, and 9 in his five starts (the 4 was against the Dodgers). My wife even said "wow" when she happened to catch his curve ball while walking through the room.
Grady Little goes for a different look, dropping Drew to fourth, Kent to fifth and Furcal to second while moving Lofton to the leadoff spot and Garciaparra to third. We'll get a look at Ethier tonight with Ledee going on the DL. I'm not sure why Repko isn't starting, but I don't like it. Did I just say that? Yes indeed. The man has a .930 OPS, and I say ride it 'till the wheels fall off.
The Pitching Matchup:
Odalis Perez (LHP, Dodgers) vs. Orlando Hernandez (RHP, Astros)
For your Los Angeles Dodgers:
Lofton, CF
Furcal, SS
Garciaparra, 1B
Drew, RF
Kent, 2B
Ethier, LF
Robles, 3B
Navarro, C
Lowe, P
For the Arizona Diamondbacks:
Counsell, SS
Byrnes, CF
Tracy, 3B
Gonzalez, LF
Jackson, 1B
Shawn Green, RF
Andy Green, 2B
Snyder, C
Hernandez, P