The creepers

The Dodgers are floating all around you ….

By Jon Weisman

You know how when a batter’s on a hot streak, the baseball is as big as a beachball?

That’s how big the MLB scoreboard is for the Dodgers right now.  Every time they look up at it lately (well, eight times in the last 10 days), the National League West-leading San Francisco Giants have eephused a big, rainbow-colored loss.

Having been bounced by the Chicago White Sox twice in 18 hours, including 7-6 this afternoon in Illinois, San Francisco has surrendered more than half of its once-proud 9 1/2-game advantage. Los Angeles can come within four games of first place if Clayton Kershaw can hold off the Rockies tonight.

“There’s no doubt you gain a little energy by creeping,” Dodger manager Don Mattingly said. “It’s like you’re chasing somebody in a race, right? And you’re getting closer … it’s never motivating when that guy’s running and you can’t see him anymore. I think the fact that we’re able to kind of get a little bit of view, I think it helps.

“But that’s only short-lived. You’ve still got to take care of business over the long haul.”

To that end, some players are closer to action:

• Juan Uribe, out since May 20, will begin a rehab assignment Thursday in Rancho Cucamonga, designated hitting in his first game.
• Justin Turner, whose last start was June 12, could play tonight, but Mattingly is hoping to combine one more day of rest with Thursday’s off day before starting him Friday in San Diego.
• Hanley Ramirez, who left Tuesday’s game with a contusion on his right ring finger, was listed in the starting lineup, though he stood to be reevaluated after batting practice. Mattingly was happy that it was even a possibility Ramirez could play.
• An MRI behind him, Carl Crawford remains in Arizona, continuing to wait for progress on his left ankle that will allow him to resume his recovery work.
• Scott Elbert, recovering from multiple operations including Tommy John surgery, has begun a rehab assignment in Ogden. Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A. has more.
• Grant Holmes, the first-round draft pick who officially signed with the Dodgers on Tuesday, will take the Dodger Stadium mound for his first Major League start on June 28, 2017.*

*I might have made this up.