Dodgers open interleague series with Rangers in Arlington

The Dodgers are back to the interleague play portion of their schedule with four games against the Rangers this week, beginning with a two-game series in Texas that starts on Monday night at Globe Life Park in Arlington.

Monday marks the Dodgers' first game in Arlington since 2009, also their last meeting with the Rangers. Wednesday will mark the Rangers' first time at Dodger Stadium since 2001.

Despite Monday's game being played in an American League park, with the designated hitter an option for both teams, Alex Guerrero gets to sit and watch the series like the rest of us.

Monday will be the fifth straight game Guerrero hasn't started, his longest stretch on the bench since April. He started 23 of 35 games before his recent downturn in playing opportunities.

Third base is the stronger of Guerrero's two defensive positions, beating out left field, but he hasn't started at the hot corner since May 24, before Juan Uribe was traded. Alberto Callaspo gets the start at third base, his eighth start in the last 16 games.

This is the part where I note that part of the given reason for the trade with the Braves was a lack of playing time for Uribe, who started three times in his final 16 games as a Dodger.

Callaspo is certainly a better defender than Guerrero at third base, but is also hitting .225/.304/.282 on the season, even with his relatively solid 10-for-35, .286/.342/.371 as a Dodger so far.

One might think that with the DH as an option, Guerrero would start, but that is not the case. Then again, though Guerrero is hitting .282/.312/.615 on the season, since May 1 he has hit only .242/.278/.484, with four walks and 29 strikeouts in 97 plate appearances.

The Dodgers on Monday are using the DH spot to give Adrian Gonzalez a pseudo day off, since real days off are few and far between right now. The Dodgers are in their fourth game of a stretch of 20 games in 20 days. Perhaps another day off might come either Monday or (more likely) Tuesday, with thunderstorms in the forecast.

Justin Turner gets the start at first base.

Carlos Frias gets the start for the Dodgers, facing a lineup with six left-handed batters, including four in a row at the top with Shin-Soo Choo, Joey Gallo, Prince Fielder and Mitch Moreland.

Yovani Gallardo gets the call for Texas, though with his 12 career home runs won't get to bat (he is 1-for-2 this season, with a single). Andre Ethier, who homered and tripled on Sunday, is 8-for-21 (.381) with two doubles, a home run and a triple against Gallardo.

Texas move

Rougned Odor was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock and starts for Texas at second base on Monday night. Delino DeShields Jr. was placed on the 15-day DL by the Rangers with a strained left hamstring strain.

Game info

Time: 5:05 p.m. PT

TV: SportsNet LA