For highlights from Tuesday, visit LA Photog Blog.
Darwin Barney, 2B
Yasiel Puig, CF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, RF
Juan Uribe, 3B
Carl Crawford, LF
Tim Federowicz, C
Miguel Rojas, SS
Carlos Frias, P
By Jon Weisman
Carl Crawford’s current hot streak, in which he has a .467 on-base percentage and .617 slugging percentage in 105 plate appearances since August 10, will be tested today when he faces left-handed Colorado starter Jorge De La Rosa.
Even during his batting surge, Crawford has rarely faced lefty pitching — in fact, today marks only his fourth start against a southpaw this year.
But Crawford’s numbers against left-handers this year are surprisingly good, though they’re out of left field, so to speak. He is 16 for 50 with four walks and two home runs, for an .886 OPS. Against lefties last year, Crawford had a .551 OPS and his career mark is .685.
Crawford homered off San Diego lefty relievers Alex Torres on August 19 and Frank Garces on September 8. Lifetime against De La Rosa, Crawford is 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
It’s a rare lineup for Don Mattingly against a left-handed starter that doesn’t have Scott Van Slyke, who has a 1.016 OPS against lefties in 2014. Though Dee Gordon is on the bench to start today’s game, Adrian Gonzalez and Crawford are both in. Tim Federowicz, whose only MLB homer of 2014 was in daylight at Colorado on June 7, is also starting, as is Miguel Rojas at short while Hanley Ramirez rests his injured elbow.
artieboy
Mercifully over that 1st inning :(