Carl Crawford starts opener vs. Mets

A red-hot Carl Crawford starts in left field for the Dodgers in the opener of a three-game series at Citi Field against the Mets. Andre Ethier drew the short straw among Dodgers outfielders and will sit on Tuesday.

Crawford is hitting .450/.463/.700 with three home runs in his last 12 games. He has a four-game hitting streak and has hit in 10 straight starts, dating back to May 4. This is Crawford's 11th start in left field in the last 15 games, coinciding with a hot streak that began with a pinch-hit game-winning two-run home run off Carlos Marmol in Miami on May 3.

Ethier during that span has started seven times - two games in left field, three in center and two in right.

Ethier has a three-game hitting streak of his own and has hit in each of his last seven starts. He is hitting .358/.424/.472 in his last 18 games, dating back to April 26. Ethier, the only Dodger ever with seven seasons of 30 or more doubles (2007-2013), had no doubles through his first 23 games this season but has hit six in his last 16 games.

Eric Young Jr. starts in left field for the Mets, making for a battle of leadoff men with the top two stolen base totals in the majors. Dee Gordon leads the majors with 25 steals and has onlybeen caught three times. Young is third with 15 steals (tied with Jose Altuve of the Astros) in 16 attempts. Reds speedster Billy Hamilton ranks second with 16 steals, in 22 attempts.