Dodgers links: Mattingly receives support from Kasten and Colletti

The Dodgers currently sit at 19-26, and could be without a manager if this weekend's series with the Cardinals doesn't go well. After the bullpen blew three straight games to the Braves, the temperature on Don Mattingly's hot seat increased overnight. The boys in blue have won three out of their last four series, but that isn't what most people are talking about.

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, it seems like team President Stan Kasten did not interpret Mattingly's comments on Wednesday as critical of the front office. Kasten even praised Mattingly trying to light a fire under the team and said, "We're all behind him."

ESPN's Buster Olney and Jayson Stark also wrote about the relationship between Colletti, Kasten, and Mattingly. According to Olney and Stark, Mattingly isn't as close to unemployment as people think. In fact, Mattingly's comments Wednesday came after a late-night Tuesday meeting with Colletti and the caoching staff.

If Mattingly loses his job in Los Angeles, there is no doubt that another team would hire him as some form of coach during the offseason. Danny Knobler of CBS Sports thinks that if Mattingly is let go by the Dodgers, the Nationals could hire him to be Davey Johnson's replacement.

While Mattingly is still in LA, he doesn't have a particularly strong bench. Luis Cruz isn't hitting at all, Ramon Hernandez hadn't been playing well until he went 2-3 with a home run against Milwaukee on Wednesday, and Skip Schumaker, Juan Uribe, and Nick Punto are being forced to start thanks to injuries and Cruz's disappointing start to the season, per Steve Dilbeck of the Los Angeles Times.

Finally, ESPN's Jason A. Churchill and Chris Crawford discussed what each team needs to address in the upcoming MLB Draft (ESPN insider required).