Dodgers notes: Scott Van Slyke starts vs. LHP, Dan Haren opens Chicago series

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers go for a fifth straight win on Wednesday night against the Braves, and for the most part have the same lineup, though with left-hander Alex Wood on the mound for Atlanta, Scott Van Slyke gets the start in left field.

Van Slyke is hitting .281/.432/.703 against left-handed pitchers this season with seven home runs and 15 walks in 81 plate appearances. Wednesday is his 25th start in 26 games against left-handed starters this season.

Notes

New acquisition Darwin Barney did not join the Dodgers on Wednesday but rather was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque. Manager Don Mattingly said it was to get him some games playing all around the infield after playing almost exclusively at second base for the last five years.

"It's more to get comfortable in different areas," Mattingly explained. "He was mostly playing second base in Chicago. We want him to play there, play some short and some third."

***

Chone Figgins was 1-for-4 with a run scored on Wednesday afternoon with Triple-A Albuquerque and played six innings at shortstop in his 11th game on his current rehab assignment.

"He's doing well," Mattingly said. "At this point, the last I heard we were going to let him play out in Triple-A for those 20 days."

The collective bargaining agreement allows for up to 20 days on a rehab assignment for position players, and the Dodgers plan to use every one of those days. That means they will have to make a decision on whether to add Figgins back to the active roster by Aug. 6.

***

Mattingly said the rotation for the series with the Cubs has been set, with Dan Haren pitching the opener against the Cubs on Friday, on eight days rest. This allows them to push back Hyun-jin Ryu to Saturday, meaning he starts on five days rest. Josh Beckett will start the finale against Chicago on Sunday.