--RHP Jon Meloan could be in line for his first call-up of the season when RHP Takashi Saito is placed on the 15-day disabled list, probably on Friday. Meloan, a fireballing reliever, had a shaky big-league debut last season. He posted an 11.05 ERA in five appearances, all of them in September as the Dodgers were collapsing down the stretch, and gave up nine runs with eight walks over 7 1/3 innings.

--RHP Jason Schmidt is on track to make his first major league appearance in more than a year, possibly later this month. Schmidt underwent shoulder surgery June 20, 2007, when he had scar tissue removed from the bursa sac and a frayed biceps tendon and torn labrum repaired. So far, Schmidt has gotten through his rehabilitation assignment at Class AAA Las Vegas without any major setbacks.

--OF Matt Kemp led the team during the first half with 51 RBIs. But Kemp also led the team, by a considerable margin, in strikeouts with 104. Kemp presently ranks third in the National League in strikeouts, seven behind Mark Reynolds and 25 behind runaway leader Ryan Howard.

BY THE NUMBERS: 3 -- Hits with runners in scoring position for CF Andruw Jones at the All-Star break. He had 45 at-bats in such situations. Jones had 10 RBIs for the season, all but assuring that he will fail to drive in at least 90 runs for the first time since 1999, when he drove in 84. Jones was batting just .164 overall, and a strong case can be made that he is baseball's biggest free agent bust in 2008 after signing a two-year, $36.2 million contract in December.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I kind of had an inkling it was going to happen. That's Joe's man, and I understand that. I have given this organization three years, and I will continue to give it everything I have. I love the Dodgers, and I hope they get to the World Series." -- Dodgers hitting coach Mike Easler, after learning he would be returning to a minor league coaching job because longtime Joe Torre confidant Don Mattingly was taking over as hitting coach following the All-Star break.