:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/12891433/20130506_ajl_aj4_341.0.jpg)
Dodgers left fielder Carl Crawford was held out of the starting lineup for the series finale against the Diamondbacks on Wednesday night with tightness in his right hamstring. Utility man Elian Herrera gets the start in left field in Crawford's place.
Crawford was held out of the starting lineup three consecutive games last week with hamstring tightness, though in the third game, Friday in San Francisco, he appeared as a pinch hitter and beat out an infield single. Crawford also stole a base on Saturday and Sunday against the Giants. Crawford also homered Monday and has a seven-game hitting streak, during which he is hitting .321/.321/.643.
"Carl felt a little bit tender, it feels like something is going on. We're just being cautious, with the off day tomorrow," said manager Don Mattingly. "I had planned on playing him today, but when he comes in and feels like he's a little bit tight, it's better than playing him and he ends up pulling it and you miss him for a long time."
Mattingly said Crawford would be available to pinch hit Wednesday night.
When the utility man Herrera was recalled on Tuesday, Mattingly said he would likely be the one to give Crawford and Andre Ethier a day off against a left-handed pitcher this week. The Dodgers also face southpaw Wade LeBlanc of the Marlins on Sunday.
Mattingly planned to sit Ethier on Wednesday, as the right fielder is hitting .243/.344/.369 on the season and just .211 (15-for-71) over his last 20 games. Ethier has some weird splits this season, as he has six extra-base hits in 47 plate appearances against left-handers, something that has plagued him throughout his career. But he's also hitting just .239/.370/.328 against right-handed pitchers, a group Ethier usually terrorizes.
"What he's telling me is that he's feeling like he's been so still against the lefties that it's hurting his rhythm against the righties," Mattingly said. "I know it's not him. I know he's better than this."
But with Crawford's hamstring, Ethier remains in the starting lineup. This is Ethier's 11th start against 12 left-handed starting pitchers this season.
Game info
Time: 7:10 p.m.
TV: KCAL