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Adrian Gonzalez heating up again for Dodgers

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

The Dodgers will try to rebound from their series opening loss on Monday when they take the field against the Braves on Tuesday night at Turner Field. In the middle of things figures to be first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, who is off to a hot start after the All-Star break.

Gonzalez opened the season in supernova fashion, with 10 hits and five home runs in a three-game series against the Padres. In his first four games of the season he was 11-for-16 (.688) with five homers and two doubles.

In his first four games since the All-Star break, Gonzalez is nearly as hot, 9-for-16 (.563) with three home runs and a double.

His season from a power standpoint has been broken up in segments:

In April, Gonzalez hit eight home runs and nine doubles in 21 games.

In July, he has eight home runs and one double in 15 games.

In between, Gonzalez hit five home runs and 14 doubles in 57 games.

The doubles might come in bunches too, but they have been few and far between of late. Gonzalez had 21 doubles through 54 team games, on pace for a whopping 63 on the season, which is within shouting distance of Earl Webb's major league record of 67 two-baggers.

But since then, from June 5 to present, Gonzalez has only three doubles in 40 games.

Gonzalez is still in pace for 41 doubles, which would be the fourth time in the last five seasons he reached 40 doubles. Gonzalez averaged 38 doubles from 2006-2014.

He is also on pace for 36 home runs, which is noteworthy because his last 30-homer season was in 2010. Gonzalez hit 27 home runs in 2014 and averaged 24 home runs from 2011-2014.

If Gonzalez gets to 40 doubles and 30 home runs, he would be just the fifth Dodgers player ever in the 40/30 club, joining Andre Ethier (2009), Eric Karros (1999), Raul Mondesi (1997) and Babe Herman (1930). Herman (48 doubles, 35 home runs) is the only one of the group to reach 35 homers.

Gonzalez this season is hitting .303/.341/.487 with two home runs and eight doubles in 82 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers, which is relevant with Alex Wood starting for the Braves on Tuesday. Gonzalez is 1-for-9 with four strikeouts against Wood in his career.

Brett Anderson gets the call for the Dodgers on Tuesday, nine days after his last start. He has allowed three or fewer runs in 15 of his 18 starts this season, and since May 1 has a 2.65 ERA in 14 starts.

The Braves are 6-9 against left-handed starting pitchers this season. They and the Pirates (10-6) are the only National League teams to face southpaw starters in fewer games then the Dodgers, who are 8-9 this season against lefties though have won four of their last five against them.

Game info

Time: 4:10 p.m.

TV: SportsNet LA