The Dodgers not only got off to a 13-6 start, but they also 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, and took 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: --RHP Cory Wade is expected to be activated from the 15-day disabled list Thursday. Wade has been sidelined since April 18 with bursitis in his right shoulder, a condition that appeared to have subsided when he made a one-inning rehabilitation start for high Class A Inland Empire on Tuesday night. Dodgers manager Joe Torre said the move won't be made officially until club officials have a chance to meet with Wade early in the day.
--LHP Scott Elbert was optioned to Class AA Chattanooga after Wednesday's game, a move clearly made to open a roster spot for RHP Cory Wade. Elbert had been recalled from Chattanooga when Wade went on the disabled list on April 18. Elbert, the Dodgers' first-round draft pick in 2004, made three appearances for the big-league club, posting a 7.11 ERA and recording his first major league win. His final appearance was a 2 1/3-inning effort to save the Dodgers bullpen Wednesday night following a short start by LHP Eric Stults.
--INF Mark Loretta came through in a pinch-hitting role yet again, driving a leadoff double off the left field wall in the ninth inning Wednesday. Loretta is batting .667 (6-for-9) as a pinch hitter this season, and Dodgers pinch hitters are hitting .462 (12-for-26) for the season. Loretta, a former All-Star whose playing time has been extremely limited this season, is batting .444 (8-for-18) overall.
MEDICAL WATCH:
RHP Cory Wade (right shoulder bursitis) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 12. He made a rehab appearance for Class A Inland Empire on April 28, and he is expected to be activated April 30.
RHP Hiroki Kuroda (strained left oblique) went on the 15-day disabled list April 11. He received a cortisone shot and 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 was still pitching in extended spring training as of late April.
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
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
