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The Dodgers look to establish a new franchise record for consecutive road wins on Saturday against the Cubs, and will do so without Adrian Gonzalez in the starting lineup. Here's hoping Chicago doesn't take offense, but the Dodgers are using this weekend against the Cubs to rest up.
Then again, banking all these wins give plenty of room for house money lineups.
Gonzalez sits on Saturday for the first time since May 12 after 72 consecutive starts. It is just a standard day off for Gonzalez, as it was for shortstop Hanley Ramirez and left fielder Carl Crawford on Friday. Andre Ethier sat on Thursday and catcher A.J. Ellis sits for the second time in three games. Second baseman Mark Ellis sits for the second time in four games.
Gonzalez leads the Dodgers with 105 of 108 games played. Andre Ethier, who is playing in his 105th game on Saturday, is the only other Dodger to play in at least 86 games this season.
Part of it has to do with arriving at their hotel in Chicago at 5:30 a.m. PT on Thursday, and part of it is fighting off the dog days of summer in advance. The Dodgers have all of two off days in August.
It hasn't been announced yet, but the rest might also mean Stephen Fife gets the call on Sunday, as reported Friday by Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. The activation of Fife from the disabled list would not only push back the starting back rotation a day, but also allow Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw to face both the Cardinals and Rays in the coming week.
Activating Fife will require a corresponding move. Carlos Marmol has allowed 10 baserunners and recorded just 11 outs in his three appearances, but he doesn't have options like Chris Withrow, who has been much more effective. The move will also postpone the decision of whether Fife or Chris Capuano is the fifth starter.
Capuano gets to state his case on Saturday afternoon against the Cubs on Saturday, but he won't face Julio Borbon. The outfielder, who was easily thrown out at third base trying to advance on a wild pitch down four runs in the ninth inning on Friday, was designated for assignment.
Cub manager Dale Sveum says Julio Borbon was DFA for dumb base running play on Friday. Repeat offender.
— Bruce Levine (@ESPNBruceLevine) August 3, 2013
The Cubs recalled outfielder Donnie Murphy to take Borbon's place.
Game info
Time: 1:05 p.m.
TV: Fox