Dodgersclub.com | Los Angeles Dodgers News, dodgers Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - <div> 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.</div>PLAYER NEWS: --C Russell Martin drove in the winning run with a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth, but before that, he remained stuck in his season-long doldrums, going 0-for-3. Martin now has just two hits in 23 at-bats over his past six games and is batting .114 (4-for-35) over his past nine games. Martin has one extra-base hit in his past 13 games, a double Sunday at Colorado. --RF Andre Ethier was out of the starting lineup for the first time this season in the Dodgers' 24th game. Ethier pinch hit against Jake Peavy in the eighth inning and drove a fly ball to the warning track in straightaway center, but it was caught by Scott Hairston, and Ethier played the top of the ninth in right. Second baseman Orlando Hudson is now the only Dodgers player who has started every game this season. --SS Rafael Furcal went 1-for-4, singling to center to lead off the ninth and begin the Dodgers' winning rally. Furcal has now reached base in all 23 of the games he has played this season. He is expected to be out of the starting lineup Sunday as part of manager Joe Torre's plan to protect him physically by resting him about once a week. --RHP Cory Wade, who had been on the 15-day disabled list since April 18 with bursitis in his right shoulder, was activated before Thursday's game. Dodgers manager Joe Torre said earlier this week that Wade likely would fill the eighth-inning setup role until LHP Hong-Chih Kuo becomes consistent enough to reclaim the job. --INF Doug Mientkiewicz was transferred from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL to clear a 40-man roster spot for RHP Jeff Weaver. Mientkiewicz has been sidelined since dislocating his right shoulder on an awkward slide into second base April 16 against San Francisco. The injury required surgery, and Mientkiewicz isn't expected to return until late summer or early fall. 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 was 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 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. 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, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 30. He had surgery April 20, and he is unlikely to return before September. ROTATION: LHP Randy Wolf RHP Chad Billingsley LHP Clayton Kershaw LHP Eric Stults RHP James McDonald BULLPEN: RHP Jonathan Broxton (closer) RHP Cory Wade LHP Hong-Chih Kuo RHP Guillermo Mota LHP Will Ohman RHP Ronald Belisario RHP Ramon Troncoso RHP Jeff Weaver CATCHERS: Russell Martin Brad Ausmus INFIELDERS: 1B James Loney 2B Orlando Hudson SS Rafael Furcal 3B Casey Blake INF Juan Castro INF Mark Loretta OUTFIELDERS: LF Manny Ramirez CF Matt Kemp RF Andre Ethier OF Juan Pierre

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:

--C Russell Martin drove in the winning run with a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth, but before that, he remained stuck in his season-long doldrums, going 0-for-3. Martin now has just two hits in 23 at-bats over his past six games and is batting .114 (4-for-35) over his past nine games. Martin has one extra-base hit in his past 13 games, a double Sunday at Colorado.

--RF Andre Ethier was out of the starting lineup for the first time this season in the Dodgers' 24th game. Ethier pinch hit against Jake Peavy in the eighth inning and drove a fly ball to the warning track in straightaway center, but it was caught by Scott Hairston, and Ethier played the top of the ninth in right. Second baseman Orlando Hudson is now the only Dodgers player who has started every game this season.

--SS Rafael Furcal went 1-for-4, singling to center to lead off the ninth and begin the Dodgers' winning rally. Furcal has now reached base in all 23 of the games he has played this season. He is expected to be out of the starting lineup Sunday as part of manager Joe Torre's plan to protect him physically by resting him about once a week.

--RHP Cory Wade, who had been on the 15-day disabled list since April 18 with bursitis in his right shoulder, was activated before Thursday's game. Dodgers manager Joe Torre said earlier this week that Wade likely would fill the eighth-inning setup role until LHP Hong-Chih Kuo becomes consistent enough to reclaim the job.

--INF Doug Mientkiewicz was transferred from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL to clear a 40-man roster spot for RHP Jeff Weaver. Mientkiewicz has been sidelined since dislocating his right shoulder on an awkward slide into second base April 16 against San Francisco. The injury required surgery, and Mientkiewicz isn't expected to return until late summer or early fall.

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 was 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 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.

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, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 30. He had surgery April 20, and he is unlikely to return before September.

ROTATION:

LHP Randy Wolf

RHP Chad Billingsley

LHP Clayton Kershaw

LHP Eric Stults

RHP James McDonald

BULLPEN:

RHP Jonathan Broxton (closer)

RHP Cory Wade

LHP Hong-Chih Kuo

RHP Guillermo Mota

LHP Will Ohman

RHP Ronald Belisario

RHP Ramon Troncoso

RHP Jeff Weaver

CATCHERS:

Russell Martin

Brad Ausmus

INFIELDERS:

1B James Loney

2B Orlando Hudson

SS Rafael Furcal

3B Casey Blake

INF Juan Castro

INF Mark Loretta

OUTFIELDERS:

LF Manny Ramirez

CF Matt Kemp

RF Andre Ethier

OF Juan Pierre