Andre Ethier Done For The Season

Andre Ethier's right knee, the source of some controversy in the past few weeks, has not improved, and the right fielder is out for the season. Ethier and the team made the decision jointly, and he will visit Dr. James Andrews in Alabama for a second opinion to determine the next course of action, per Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times.

In an August 28 column in the LA Times, Ethier intimated to T.J. Simers that the Dodgers were making him play hurt, a charge Ethier backed off of one day later. The team was aware of the injury and both Ethier and the team knew it would require offseason surgery, and it was Ethier's decision to continue playing as it was determined no further major damage could be done. But considering the Dodgers don't have much to play for anymore this season, it's nice that cooler heads prevailed and Ethier is getting this taken care of sooner rather than later.

Ethier since his comments to Simers has 10 hits in 25 at-bats, hitting .400/.464/.600 with two doubles, a home run, and 11 RBI. Ethier has played in eight of 10 games, starting six.

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The Dodgers and Nationals are scheduled to play two on Thursday, in what I believe will be the seventh doubleheader by the Dodgers since 2000, and first since April 27, 2010 at Citi Field against the Mets:

All of these doubleheaders were on the road, which is understandable because there hasn't been a rainout at Dodger Stadium since April 17, 2000.

The last time the Dodgers swept a doubleheader on the road against this franchise was on Montreal on September 2, 1976. Don Sutton beat Steve Rogers in the opener, followed by Elias Sosa pitching four innings in relief for the win over Steve Denning in the nightcap. Bill Buckner had five hits in the two games, including a double, scored three of the Dodgers' seven runs, and drove in two more. Charlie Hough saved both games.

The last time the Dodgers were swept in a road doubleheader against the Expos was July 14, 1991. Oil Can Boyd beat Ramon Martinez in the first game, then Brian Barnes beat Tim Belcher in the second game. Juan Samuel had five hits in eight at-bats in the twinbill.

The Dodgers flipped their rotation for the doubleheader. Chad Billingsley, today's original scheduled starter, starts in the first game, against Chien-Ming Wang. Dana Eveland starts for the Dodgers in game two, facing Ross Detwiler.

Lineups

Game Time: 10:05 a.m.

TV: Prime Ticket

MLB Gameday