Yasiel Puig releases statement, not in starting lineup

SAN FRANCISCO -- Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig is not in the starting lineup for Wednesday night's game against the Giants, but he's still in the news. Puig's agent, Adam Katz, released a statement on Puig's behalf.

"I'm aware of the recent articles and news accounts. I understand that people are curious and have questions, but I will have no comment on this subject," the statement read. "I'm represented on this matter, and I'm only focused on being a productive teammate and helping the Dodgers win games."

It is a response to the May 2014 LA Magazine article about Puig by Jesse Katz detailing Puig's escape from Cuba and, among other things, death threats reportedly received by the outfielder.

"I don’t know what happened and I don’t know what’s going on with it," manager Don Mattingly told reporters on Tuesday, per Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times. "My job really is for us to win games, help him in any way we can, as far as on the field, help him get ready to play."

Puig is the only one of the four "starting" outfielders on the Dodgers not to have faced Giants starter Ryan Vogelsong, though Puig was originally in the lineup during the home opener on April 4 before getting scratched for arriving late.

Matt Kemp is 7-for-22 (.318) with a home run, a triple, a double and three walks against Vogelsong. Andre Ethier is 5-for-17 (.294) with two doubles, a home run and two walks, and Carl Crawford is 2-for-6 (.333) against the right-hander.