The move gives the Dodgers a replacement for Howie Kendrick, who strained his hamstring in L.A.’s loss to the Dodgers on Sunday.
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Certainly Kendrick did not sound optimistic after Sunday’s game when he said: “It’s about the same area”. He is tied with Cincinnati’s Joey Votto for the National League lead with 38 multi-hit games and ranks seventh in the league with 124 hits.
Still, Los Angeles has World Series aspirations this season and could use a healthy Kendrick in the order and at second base on a daily basis. “But I think we all know how these hammies go”.
Here are the full lineups for tonight’s 7:10 p.m. start at Dodger Stadium, with Joc Pederson, Adrian Gonzalez and Yasmani Grandal all out of the lineup for the Dodgers. 302 with 27 stolen bases, four homers and 41 RBIs.
“Jose plays second, short and center. I look forward to it.” manager Don Mattingly said of losing Kendrick.
Overall Hernandez – who turns 24 in two weeks – is batting. “We are going to put him in the best spots to have success”. Utley is from Southern California, is nicknamed “Hollywood”, and would slot in at second base right across from his 12-season double play partner in Jimmy Rollins.
Though he’s appeared in exclusively 9 video games at second base for the Dodgers this season, that was his main place within the minors. Every major prospect-ranking system had him in the top 100 in the preseason, some far higher.
“It’s a big loss for us, but we’ve got some guys who are capable and are going to get opportunities”.
“Kiké for us gets first shot”. Their pitching is ridiculous from starters to the bullpen as can be seen in their team ERA of just 3.19.
After he pulled up favoring his leg while beating out an infield single in Sunday’s game, Kendrick probably won’t be available Monday against the Nationals.
“It would leave a big void”, Mattingly said. “(Sunday) was not so good, but the day before, they threw four scorless.
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But Johnson had only allowed 12 earned runs in 48 innings with the Braves before the trade.
