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As much attention was paid to the late-inning bunts in Tuesday's game, the much larger problem for the Dodgers is that their lineup has been full of holes for the majority of the season.
Juan Uribe is hitting .232/.284/.275, looking every bit like the player who hit .204/.264/.293 last year. His last home run came on June 20, 2011, 45 games and 166 plate appearances ago. Uribe has one home run in his last 287 plate appearances.
Dee Gordon has an eight-game hitting streak, and that has seen his numbers improve to .237/.279/.307. He bats leadoff. Dodgers leadoff hitters this season have a .283 on-base percentage, which is eighth worst in baseball. Amazingly 14 of 30 MLB teams have a sub-.300 OBP from their leadoff spot this season.
Juan Rivera, who has batted fifth or cleanup in every game he has started this season, is hitting .247/.276/.358. Last year, Rivera was hitting .243/.305/.360 for the Toronto Blue Jays when he was designated for assignment in July.
James Loney is hitting .258/.343/.387 against left-handed pitchers this season, his best numbers against southpaws against 2009...oh wait, that is Loney's line against right-handers this season. He is 3-for-28 against lefties, dragging his overall numbers down to .211/.283/.322.
Tonight's Pitching Matchup
Chad Billingsley makes his seventh start of the season, and his third at Dodger Stadium. In each of his two previous home starts this season, Billingsley has allowed one run and five hits, with each run scored on a solo home run. In 19 career starts against the Giants, Billingsley is 6-5 with a 2.97 ERA.
Tim Lincecum is probably happy to have anyone on the mound for the Dodgers aside from Clayton Kershaw. Lincecum lost all four showdowns with Kershaw last season despite allowing just five runs in 29 innings in those games. Lincecum has allowed two runs or less in nine of 14 career starts against the Dodgers (plus one relief appearance of four innings and one run allowed, in a rain delayed game against Billingsley on April 2, 2008 at Dodger Stadium). Lincecum is 5-4 with a 2.85 ERA against the Dodgers in his career.
Game Time: 7:10 p.m.
TV: Prime Ticket