Dodgers Go For Father’s Day Sweep

After getting the bad news that Chone Figgins was placed on the disabled list with a quad strain, the Dodgers looked to Dan Haren for a solid start in order to capture a series win at home versus the Snakes. Haren not only picked up his seventh win of the season, but he also drove in three runs with a bases-clearing double giving the Dodgers the runs they needed to not only break the 2-2 tie but win the series.

Josh Beckett (4-3, 2.35)  vs. Bronson Arroyo (6-4, 4.22)

Lineup: 

Gordon 2B

Ramirez SS

Puig RF

Gonzalez 1B

Kemp LF

Van Slyke CF

Romak 3B

Butera C

Beckett P

The Dodgers will go for their third sweep of Arizona this year, and frankly the Dodgers could use all the wins they can get even if it’s against the lowly D-backs. With another injury on the books and the crushing news about Chad Billingsley‘s torn elbow, the Dodgers’ season has become increasingly more depressing. The cure for that of course is Dee Gordon homeruns.

Josh Beckett is the perfect pitcher to go to the mound this Father’s Day at Dodger Stadium. Even after pitching his no-hitter on May 25th, Beckett

Bronson Arroyo will face the Dodgers for the first time this season on Sunday. Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

has not bowed out. Beckett’s 2014 season has been a joy to watch. Last time out against Cincinnati, Beckett only allowed 2 hits over 6 shutout innings of work. Beckett pitched against Arizona once this season back on April 20th at Dodger Stadium, but he was mired in that no-decision streak of four games. He allowed just 1 hit over 5 innings of work. In his career, Beckett is 2-5 with a 3.59 ERA against the D-backs in 10 starts. He’ll have to be very wary of Aaron Hill who has collected 15 hits including 7 doubles, 8 RBIS,  and a homerun against Beckett in his career. Interestingly, Paul Goldschmidt has only had 2 hits off Beckett in 12 plate appearances good for a .200 batting average against him.

15-year veteran Bronson Arroyo will be going to the mound to counter his fellow number 61 wearer Josh Beckett. Arroyo has won his last two starts, and in his last outing against Houston, he allowed 1 run on 6 hits in 7 innings. This will be Arroyo’s first start against the Dodgers this season. He is 5-5 with a 3.75 ERA in 16 career games (15 starts) against the Dodgers. He is 2-4 with a 4.85 ERA at Dodgers Stadium (8 games). Matt Kemp has really hit well against Arroyo in the past, and the outfielder has 11 hits including 2 homeruns against the right-hander. Arroyo is decent with the bat as well, and he is hitting .231 this year with 6 hits.

The Giants lost to Colorado on Saturday, so the Dodgers are now 6 1/2 back. A series sweep on Sunday would not only get the Dodgers another chance to pick up a game on SF, but it would also boost their home record which is below .500 on the season. The Rockies will come in to town on Monday for a three-game set, and the Dodgers have a great opportunity to make headway in the division with some Western wins this homestand.

The Dodgers will have to do all of this with a bench consisting of: Scott Van Slyke, Carlos Triunfel, Jamie Romak, Justin Turner, and Drew Butera. That doesn’t really induce thoughts of grand slams and pinch-hits, but that’s what the Dodgers are working with right now. Carl Crawford is rehabbing in Arizona, Juan Uribe is progressing and may play in a rehab game soon, but Chad Billingsley is most likely lost for the season and beyond.

Prediction: A.J. Ellis knocks in a run.

Vin Scully mentioned that he thought Yasiel Puig and the rest of the Dodgers are missing Juan Uribe in the field and in the dugout. I miss Uribe as well. The Dodgers could use some jazzy homeruns right about now.

Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads out there!

Go Blue!