Aaron Harang Pitches to Preserve Perfection at Home

Aaron Harang (1-1, 5.40) vs. Mike Minor (2-1, 3.10)

Lineup:

Gordon SS

Mark Ellis 2B

Kemp CF

Rivera 1B

Ethier RF

Hairston LF

Uribe 3B

A.J. Ellis C

Harang P

The Dodgers have yet to lose a game at home in 2012. Last night the bit players stepped up and added fuel to the fire alongside the regular run igniters-Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier. Juan Uribe silenced the anti-Uribe movement, temporarily at least, by going 4 for 4. James Loney also has been slowly coming around, and he had a nice multi-hit game as well. With some of the other guys in the lineup contributing, the Bison/Dre dynamic duo is even more potent. Things are looking swimmingly good, Dodger fans. Our boys in blue are 13-4. If you think about it, two of those four losses were very close games against the Brewers which could have easily tipped in our favor. The other two were blowout forfeitures which could have been prevented with some different pitching choices. The Dodgers will try to preserve their perfect home record tonight as Aaron Harang takes the ball for the home team. James Loney will be sitting with a lefty on the mound tonight, and Rivera will be playing first base instead. Jerry Hairston Jr. will be in left field and batting behind Ethier. 

After last night’s game, Jair Jurrjens was optioned down to AAA by the Braves. He had a great ERA going into the All-Star break last year at 1.87, but since then his right knee has been bothering him and he missed all of last September. His velocity has decreased, and his ERA has crept up.

"“We optioned Jair tonight to give him a chance to work through his difficulties at the Triple-A level and hopefully come back ready to help us contend,” Braves general manager Frank Wren said. “He is not having any health or injury issues, just needs to get back on track pitching wise.”"

Harang will be going for his second win after collecting his first against the Brewers in Milwaukee. Against Atlanta, Harang is 1-3 with a 4.53 ERA. The Braves have hit Harang well in the past, and five of the current players have taken him deep. Look out for David Ross, who has hit two homeruns against Aaron in just three at bats.

Mike Minor, lefty, will be vying for his third victory on the season. Last time out against the D-backs, Minor went 8 innings-a career high. He has only allowed one earned run in his last 15 1/3 innings pitched. He’s only pitched 6 innings against the Dodgers in his career, and has a 1.50 ERA so far against us. A.J. Ellis does have one homerun against him (one of his only career homeruns in fact).

It is Chipper Jones‘ 40th birthday today, and he is expected to be in the lineup even though he has had some knee discomfort the past few days after undergoing a March 26th knee procedure.

The game will start at 7:10 pm, and it will be televised on KCAL. Go Blue!

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