Dodgers Lineup

Matt Kemp said the gluttonous run production is a result of the depth of the Dodgers' lineup. Manager Joe Torre said it's a reflection of the protection the middle-of-the-lineup hitters offer each other. But Andre Ethier said that the relentless attack that pounded out 18 hits in the Dodgers' 14-6 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night at Great American Ball Park was something that was years in the making. "That's what happens when you have a group of guys that have stuck together for so long like we have," Ethier said.

ATLANTA - Second baseman Mark Ellis was activated from the 15-day disabled list Sunday, having been cleared by the medical staff to return to the lineup after playing in two minor league games. "I'm done rehabbing," Ellis said. Ellis played all nine innings Sunday in the Dodgers' 5-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves. Ellis, 35, had been sidelined for three weeks because of a strained quadriceps muscle. "It's been tough, without a doubt," Ellis said. "You always feel you can help a little bit. I know one guy's not going to make a difference, but you feel you can help.

PHOENIX - Adrian Gonzalez is being held out of the Dodgers lineup on Sunday after he was hit by a pitch in his right forearm the previous night. The move was described as precautionary. “It's not enough to be on the medical report,” Manager Don Mattingly said. Juan Uribe, who is nursing a tight hamstring, will be out of action for the second consecutive day. Carl Crawford, who played three innings in left field on Saturday night, is scheduled to play defense for five innings.

The Dodgers had a lot to be thankful for Sunday. They were thankful for the Miami Marlins, one of only two National League teams to begin play Sunday with a worse record. And they were thankful for the schedule makers, who brought the Marlins to town in time to help the Dodgers end their longest losing streak in nearly five seasons. But perhaps most of all they were thankful for Scott Van Slyke, who was in the minor leagues three days ago. Sunday he was at first base at Dodger Stadium, spelling the aching Adrian Gonzalez, and he made the most of the opportunity, contributing a home run, a run-scoring single and two sterling defensive plays in the Dodgers' 5-3 victory.

When your offense is struggling and suddenly the lineup features four new starters, then maybe you figure there's an intentional shakeup going on. On Sunday, Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly penciled a different starting eight for the series finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but said only one move was really about a struggling player. New to the lineup Sunday were Nick Punto at second, Jerry "Michael Jackson" Hairston Jr. in right, Juan Uribe at third and Tim Federowicz at catcher.

With a splint on his right pinkie finger and foam pad on the knob of his bat, Andre Ethier returned from the 15-day disabled list Monday for the Dodgers' series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Making his first start since May 14 but still entering the game as the Dodgers' leader with 11 home runs and 38 runs batted in, Ethier insisted that his new accessories weren't indications that his swing was in any way impaired by his fractured digit. "It's still broken, but it's just not as painful," Ethier said.

BALTIMORE -- Encouraged by a power-hitting display he put on during an early batting practice session Friday, sidelined shortstop Hanley Ramirez said he hoped he could be in the Dodgers' lineup on his April 30 bobblehead night. “I want to be in there,” Ramirez said. Is it possible? “Hopefully, yeah,” he said. When Ramirez tore a thumb ligament last month, he was initially expected to be out until mid-May. Ramirez said it's unlikely he will be activated during the six-game trip that begins Friday and includes three games in Baltimore against the Orioles and three games in New York against the Mets.

PHOENIX - Carl Crawford will play his first-ever game for the Dodgers Sunday, as he is in the lineup as their leadoff hitter in their split-squad game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Camelback Ranch. Crawford will be the designated hitter. The last time he played in a major league game of any kind was on Aug. 19, for the Boston Red Sox. Crawford will also be the Dodgers' DH on Monday and Tuesday, Manager Don Mattingly said. Zack Greinke, who has been sidelined with a sore elbow, is scheduled to throw a bullpen session.

Reporting from Chicago -- Andre Ethier , the leading hitter in the major leagues, could be back in the Dodgers' lineup as soon as Sunday. "As of right now, there's no indication why not," Ethier said Tuesday, after taking live batting practice for the first time since he suffered a broken little finger 10 days ago. The Dodgers had projected Ethier would sit out up to six weeks, but a custom splint has protected the finger so well that...

Shortstop Dee Gordon was out of the Dodgers lineup Saturday. He probably won't be in the lineup for the next couple of days, either. Manager Don Mattingly figures that sitting Gordon for a few days could help the 24-year-old leadoff hitter slow down the game mentally and catch his breath. Gordon, who is in his first full season as the everyday shortstop, was the only starting position player to not reach base in a 6-5 victory over theSt. Louis Cardinalson Friday.

BALTIMORE -- Encouraged by a power-hitting display he put on during an early batting practice session Friday, sidelined shortstop Hanley Ramirez said he hoped he could be in the Dodgers' lineup on his April 30 bobblehead night. “I want to be in there,” Ramirez said. Is it possible? “Hopefully, yeah,” he said. When Ramirez tore a thumb ligament last month, he was initially expected to be out until mid-May. Ramirez said it's unlikely he will be activated during the six-game trip that begins Friday and includes three games in Baltimore against the Orioles and three games in New York against the Mets.

When your offense is struggling and suddenly the lineup features four new starters, then maybe you figure there's an intentional shakeup going on. On Sunday, Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly penciled a different starting eight for the series finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but said only one move was really about a struggling player. New to the lineup Sunday were Nick Punto at second, Jerry "Michael Jackson" Hairston Jr. in right, Juan Uribe at third and Tim Federowicz at catcher.

Carl Crawford will be out of the lineup Tuesday night for the Dodgers' second game of the regular season. But it's not because left-hander Madison Bumgarner is starting for the San Francisco Giants or because there's anything wrong with Crawford's surgically repaired elbow. “We wanted to make sure we were able to wean him in the first couple series,” Mattingly said. Crawford was two for four with a double and a run scored in the Dodgers' season-opening victory over the Giants on Monday.

PHOENIX - Chad Billingsley threw seven curveballs in his bullpen session Monday, making him increasingly optimistic that he will be able to make his first scheduled start of the regular season for the Dodgers on April 2. Billingsley refrained from throwing any curveballs in a minor league game last week because of a bruised index finger. “I was happy with them,” Billingsley said of the quality of his curveballs. Manager Don Mattingly said earlier Monday that he would skip Billingsley's first turn in the rotation if the right-hander couldn't throw all of his pitches.

Derek Jeter, the venerable captain and shortstop of the New York Yankees, is likely to start the season on the disabled list, General Manager Brian Cashman acknowledged Sunday. "I know Derek extremely well, and I can read his face," Cashman said. "And his face today tells me that the reality of his circumstances is starting to sink in, and the disabled list might be necessary. I told him what I think, and he didn't fight me on it. That's reality. " Jeter, 38, is trying to play himself back into shape after surgery to repair a broken left ankle he sustained in the playoffs in October.

Believe it or not, spring training is actually drawing to a close. It had to happen sometime. The Dodgers have only three more games scheduled in Arizona before heading to Los Angeles and the Freeway Series against the Angels. And they still have eight starting pitchers. Not one has been moved. The way most have pitched, it's understandable if the offers have not been pouring in. None of the eight have exactly been lights out this spring: Zack Grienke (0-0, 3.60 ERA, 1.40 WHIP)

Two hours before leaving Dodgertown for Los Angeles Thursday, Darryl Strawberry wanted to put himself through one last spring-training test. He was running toward second base, his line drive bouncing toward the outfield fence. The decision was spontaneous. "I said, 'Man, I might as well check out my leg, see what happens,' " Strawberry said. Moments later, he was sliding into third base with a triple. Strawberry is returning home a happy man with a sound right hamstring.

PHOENIX - Adrian Gonzalez is being held out of the Dodgers lineup on Sunday after he was hit by a pitch in his right forearm the previous night. The move was described as precautionary. “It's not enough to be on the medical report,” Manager Don Mattingly said. Juan Uribe, who is nursing a tight hamstring, will be out of action for the second consecutive day. Carl Crawford, who played three innings in left field on Saturday night, is scheduled to play defense for five innings.

PHOENIX - Playing left field for the first time in more than seven months, Carl Crawford said Saturday that he is confident he will be in the Dodgers lineup on opening day. "I should be real comfortable out there by April 1," Crawford said. Crawford was on the field for only the first three innings of the Dodgers' game against the Chicago White Sox and not a single ball was hit his way. "Normally, when you get in and it's been a while, the ball usually comes right to you," Crawford said, smiling.