The Dodgers not only are off to a 13-6 start, but they also have won 12 of their first 16 against National League West opponents during a season-opening stretch in which they will play 28 of their first 33 games within the division. The Dodgers already have won five of six from Colorado, swept a three-game series from San Francisco with another one on tap starting Monday night, and taken two of three from Arizona. Their only hiccup thus far has been a season-opening, four-game split at San Diego in which the final game got away in the eighth inning, a big reason why the Padres continue to hover just behind the Dodgers at the top of the division standings. With the notoriously weak division appearing to be no stronger than it has been in recent seasons, the Dodgers are the clear favorites to win it. But they aren't scheduled to play a contending team outside the division until visiting Philadelphia on May 12.
PLAYER NEWS: --LF Manny Ramirez was out of the starting lineup for the first time this season after going 0-for-5 with three strikeouts on Saturday night. Ramirez denied the suggestion that he was over-anxious at the plate, saying he felt fine. However, he conceded that at his age (36), he does need an occasional break.
--SS Rafael Furcal also was out of the lineup as part of manager Joe Torre's plan to rest him once a week to protect his surgically repaired lower back. Furcal said he has experienced no discomfort in his back this season despite the fact the Dodgers have played several cold-weather games, including all three games this weekend at Colorado. Furcal is on a core-strengthening program that takes about an hour a day.
--1B James Loney went 3-for-5 with two doubles, finishing a series in which he got at least two hits in each game. Loney reached base 11 times in 15 plate appearances in the series. For his career, Loney is batting .363 (29 for 80) at Coors Field, with four homers and 30 RBIs, nine of which came in a single game in September 2006.
MEDICAL WATCH:
RHP Cory Wade (right shoulder bursitis) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 12. He will make a rehab appearance for Class A Inland Empire on April 28.
RHP Hiroki Kuroda (strained left oblique) went on the 15-day disabled list April 11. He will need to make a rehab start before rejoining the Dodgers.
RHP Claudio Vargas (right elbow tendinitis) went on the 60-day disabled list retroactive to April 6. He might return as soon as he's eligible.
INF Doug Mientkiewicz (dislocated right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list April 17. He had surgery April 20, and he is unlikely to return before September.
RHP Jason Schmidt (right shoulder surgery) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 30. He threw in extended spring training in early April. He will make a rehab appearance for Class A Inland Empire on April 28.
ROTATION:
LHP Randy Wolf
RHP Chad Billingsley
LHP Clayton Kershaw
LHP Eric Stults
RHP James McDonald
BULLPEN:
RHP Jonathan Broxton (closer)
LHP Hong-Chih Kuo
RHP Guillermo Mota
LHP Will Ohman
RHP Ronald Belisario
RHP Ramon Troncoso
LHP Scott Elbert
CATCHERS:
Russell Martin
Brad Ausmus
INFIELDERS:
1B James Loney
2B Orlando Hudson
SS Rafael Furcal
3B Casey Blake
INF Juan Castro
INF Mark Loretta
INF Blake DeWitt
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Manny Ramirez
CF Matt Kemp
RF Andre Ethier
OF Juan Pierre
