Dodgers providing gap insurance

The Dodgers' hot start to date has been fueled in large part by power and patience, but not just on offense. The pitching staff has also done its part in holding opposing offenses in check in many key areas in which the Dodgers are excelling.

The club leads the majors with 35 home runs, and has scored 53 runs off those home runs. The Dodgers' pitching staff has allowed 22 home runs, slightly below the league average of 18, but has allowed 35 runs on those home runs. That's a gap of +13 in home runs and +18 in runs off home runs.

In 2014 the Dodgers hit 134 home runs but allowed 142. Though they did score more runs on home runs then their opponents, 223-215.

The Dodgers lead the National League this season with 84 walks, and the pitching staff is third-best in the league with 52 walks allowed. That's a +32 gap in just 22 games, on pace for 236 more walks than their opponents over the entire season. In 2014, the club was second in the NL with 519 walks and third in the league with 429 walks, a +90 gap.

But it doesn't stop there. The Dodgers are third in the league with 48 doubles and first with a .487 slugging percentage. Its pitchers have allowed a league-low 28 doubles and a .371 slugging percentage that is fifth-best in the league.

That is a recipe for success.

Lineup notes

Justin Turner gets another start at third base after hitting a home run last night. A healthy Juan Uribe, on an 11-game hitting streak, sits for a second straight night. Turner has not faced Jeremy Hellickson, while Uribe is 0-for-1 with a sacrifice against him, so not much to go on there.

Kiké Hernandez makes his first start at shortstop for the Dodgers, batting eighth and giving Jimmy Rollins a day off.

Scott Van Slyke gets the call in left field, on a nine-game hitting streak, hitting .462 (12-for-26) during the streak, which is more impressive because in four of those games he didn't start. Alex Guerrero, who started Friday night in left, sits.

Game info

Time: 6:10 p.m. PT

TV: SportsNet LA, MLB Network (will join in progress at 7 p.m. PT, and will be blacked out in each teams' markets)