How Javy Guerra Reminded Me Of Eric Gagne

As the Dodgers go for a sweep of the Giants on Sunday afternoon, and their third winning streak of five games or more in the last three weeks, it is unlikely we will see Javy Guerra pitch today. Guerra not only has saves in each of the last three days, but also has a cracked fingernail on his right hand.

This is the second time Guerra has been used on three straight days this season. He got the win against the Nationals on July 23, then picked up saves against Washington and the Rockies in the next two games.

Guerra's streak got me thinking of Eric Gagne. Since moving to Los Angeles, the only Dodgers to pick up saves on four straight days are Gagne and Todd Worrell. Worrell got his saves from August 22-25, 1996, while Gagne did it five different times. Here are all of Gagne's streaks of three or more days with a save:

Yes, Jim Tracy loved using Gagne to close out games. My favorite stretch was that run in May 2003, when Gagne saved six straight games for the Dodgers: three against the Marlins, an off day, then three against the Rockies. He faced 19 batters and allowed one measly single (to Greg Norton), and struck out 14 of the 19 men he faced. Ridiculous.

Gagne also had a streak of pitching four straight days from April 6-9, 2003, a streak that began with a two-inning outing in San Diego.

Lineups

Jerry Sands moves up to the number two spot against the left-hander Madison Bumgarner, who has 24 strikeouts in his last two starts.

I predict Hiroki Kuroda will give up fewer home runs today than he did in his last start.

Game Time: 1:05 p.m.

TV: Prime Ticket

MLB Gameday