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LOS ANGELES —- The Dodgers will send out Franklin Gutierrez and Brett Eibner to join Chris Taylor in the outfield in today’s game against Jon Lester and the Chicago Cubs.
Gutierrez is a regular presence against left-handed starting pitchers and he has two home runs against Jon Lester in 27 plate appearances. As for Eibner starting today, manager Dave Roberts said that he is mainly giving Puig a break after playing last night, there is something they are working on with Puig.
“I think with Yasiel, he was banged up a few days ago but from everything I understand, he’s healthy,” Roberts said, “it’s just for me, getting on the fastball, this is a tough league to hit when velocity is continuing to increase and you’re swinging and missing at fastballs in the strike zone.”
“Whether it’s physical, mechanical, mental, I know Yasiel and the hitting coaches are working tirelessly to figure it out but for today, a day game after night game, I thought it would be good to give him a breather.”
Starting Lineups
| Pos | Cubs | Pos | Dodgers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Cubs | Pos | Dodgers |
| 2B | Baez | 3B | Forsythe |
| 3B | Bryant | SS | Seager (L) |
| 1B | Rizzo (L) | CF | Taylor |
| LF | Happ (S) | LF | Gutierrez |
| RF | Heyward (L) | 2B | Hernandez |
| C | Contreras | C | Barnes |
| SS | Russell | 1B | Bellinger (L) |
| CF | Almora, Jr | RF | Eibner |
| P | Lester (L) | P | Keshaw (L) |
Dodger injuries update
Right-handed pitcher Brandon McCarthy spoke to the media before the game and said he has been dealing with tendonitis in his right knee this season and that it is something that he and the training staff are managing.
McCarthy said the MRI did not show anything that he wasn’t aware of and that he does not think this will affect is next start in St. Louis.
“It’s been there all year so we’ve learned how to go around it,” McCarthy said, “some days you go a little harder on it, some days a little less.”
“Really just day-to-day management, so just more of that.”
Roberts agreed with McCarthy on what the team is thinking.
“It is not something that we feel could get worst,” Roberts said, “it’s something that with treatment, just managing it so we expect him to make that next start.”
Outfielder Joc Pederson is still running concussion tests, “everyday he’s getting a little bit better,” Roberts said, “but there is still some sort of haze going on and with the sensory things, things going on, it kind of fatigues his mind.”
“So right now it is not about the baseball component,” Roberts said, “it is more about just getting him to kind of get that to subside, so right now, I don’t know a timetable.”
Third baseman Justin Turner will be going on the road trip. “I don’t know when he is going to be active,” Roberts said, “but we want him on the road trip to be around our medical staff.”
Managing the bullpen
Reliever Kenley Jansen has not pitched since last Tuesday, Roberts is planning to get him some action soon.
“We are getting to that point with Kenley,” Roberts said, “today is a day that I am going to do everything I can to get him in there, so with the rest, if there is the potential four-out save, he’ll be available for that.”
“Any day Clayton takes the mound, he can go the distance, so if that happens, which I would welcome, then [Jansen] would pitch tomorrow for sure. But today is a day that I would really like to get Kenley in there.