Today at 1:10 PM the Dodgers will be taking on the GIants in the rubber match of a three game set. After the 8-0 victory yesterday, the Dodgers have to feel they can compete and win tough games even without Manny Ramirez in the lineup. Today's starting pitchers will be Jeff Weaver and TIm Lincecum.
Jeff Weaver got the win in his first start of the season earlier in the week, going five innings against the DIamondbacks and only allowng one run. He will have to be just as good today, because after starting slow Lincecum has found his Cy Young form in his last four starts. In those starts he has given up 6 runs in 30 innings with 6 walks and 40 strikeouts.
Here's the lineup today per Inside the Dodgers:
Pierre, LF
Furcal, SS
Hudson, 2B
Ethier, RF
Loney, 1B
Loretta, 3B
Kemp, CF
Ausmus, C
Weaver, P
Ethier has been moved to the four spot to make room for Pierre at the top of the lineup. Also, Mark Loretta and Brad Ausmus start in place of Casey Blake and Russell Martin today. Torre said that Stults made a case for not carrying 13 pitchers yesterday with his outing, but Torre still likes having them as a security blanket. It just prevents him from pinch hitting early in the ballgame. I'm not sure we need so many pitchers, we've barely been using Brent Leach and James McDonald.
Hiroki Kuroda also threw a bullpen today. Hopefully he'll be back sometime soon.
Get your guesses in for "Just a Bit Outside" here.