Los Angeles Dodgers

Punto has played this month in a single month since starting 27 games for the Twins in 2010.

It’s been nearly a month since we last saw Ted Lilly in a Dodger uniform, back to when he lasted only three miserable innings against Colorado in a game that we all hoped would mark the end of his Dodger career. We later found out that he was dealing with soreness in his rib cage as well as his neck & back — issues that were not disclosed to Don Mattingly before he took the mound — though I’m having a hard time thinking that his terrible outing was related entirely to that. So now he’s back in the rotation rather than Matt Magill because… well, I don’t really have a great answer to that. We can hold out hope that Lilly looks more like he did in his surprisingly decent debut against the Mets, but I’ve been done with him for more than a year at this point. Expectations, especially against one of the best teams in baseball, are low. Cardinals Dodgers 2B Carpenter 3B Punto RF Beltran 2B M.Ellis LF Holliday 1B Gonzalez 1B Craig CF Kemp C Molina RF Ethier 3B Freese LF Van Slyke CF Jay C A.Ellis SS Kozma SS Gordon P Gast P Lilly Regardless of what Lilly does, there are roster moves coming, however, because there just about has to be. Jerry Hairston‘s Twitter feed indicates that he will see his Dodger teammates tomorrow, and while doesn’t necessarily guarantee he’ll be activated — it’s not like he couldn’t just pop in to say hi from Rancho — he doesn’t sound more than a few days away at the most. Scott Elbert shouldn’t be far behind him, and Hanley Ramirez could be seen in the first week of June. Who goes to make room? Assuming Scott Van Slyke‘s impressive display so far has earned him some time — he’s starting for Carl Crawford today — then it’s difficult to see any other way to make room for Hairston & Ramirez than to finally be free of Luis Cruz & Dee Gordon. (Assuming no other injuries pop up first.) My guess is that it would be in that order, since Gordon isn’t likely to go until Ramirez is ready, and so we may finally be down to the last few days of the Cruz era. I know I’ve said that a few times before, but as the injured slowly return to health, there seem to be few other options than to cut loose a player that Don Mattingly clearly has no patience for. Hell, if Hairston really did mean he’d be coming back tomorrow, tonight might be actually the last day for Cruz in Los Angeles, and while that won’t save a season that is quickly circling the drain, it’ll be nice to get minor leaguers back to the minors where they belong. That’s an issue for another time, however, because the Dodgers have lost five of seven and really, really need to figure out a way to solve St. Louis rookie lefty John Gast today. (With Joe Buck & Tim McCarver calling the action, which, uh, wonderful.). We all know that the Dodgers often have trouble with pitchers they haven’t seen before; then again, this year’s Dodgers seem to have trouble with all pitchers these days. Sat 5/18Sun 5/19Mon 5/20Tues 5/21Wed 5/22Thurs 5/23Fri 5/24 RR. Belisario15-1019- RJ.Guerra-11- RM. Guerrier-30-28 LJ.P. Howell19--23 RK. Jansen2114-- RB. League19-10- LP. Rodriguez2--15

Dodgers May home run leader Scott Van Slyke returns to the lineup, playing left field against left-handed starter John Gast.

It's Jaime Jarrin Bobblehead Day at Dodger Stadium!Ted Lilly (0-1, 5.63) vs. John Gast (2-0, 4.76). It's an odd 4 p.m. Saturday start time at Dodger Stadium to accommodate the Fox broadcast. Now the rest of the country can share in our misery! Gast — not that one — was called up from the minors to sub for the injured Jake Westbrook. Since the Dodgers haven't seen him before, expect a CGSHO. Oh, and we gotta win today for a chance at the Eye on Baseball Heavyweight Championship belt. No pressure, boys.

Lilly makes his first start for the Dodgers since Apr. 29.

Ted Lilly starts for the Dodgers against John Gast of the Cardinals in a battle of left-handed pitchers at Dodger Stadium.

I posted this yesterday but the Dodgers have send out more info. From the Dodgers - The Dodgers and Metrolink have partnered on the Rail Series which will provide special round-trip service between Oceanside and Los Angeles (Union Station) on May 27 and 28 for fans traveling to Dodger Stadium for the two-game series, Monday at 5:10 p.m. and Tuesday at 7:10 p.m., against the Angels.The Rail Series service will be highlighted with Metrolink station events, including an appearance in Fullerton on Monday by Dodger Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda who is scheduled to be at the station beginning at 2 p.m. and will ride the train from Fullerton to Union Station. The day’s festivities will begin at 1:30 p.m. with an appearance by Dodger alumni Jay Johnstone and Kenny Landreaux at the Fullerton and Irvine Metrolink stations respectively. Johnstone will also board the train heading to Los Angeles.On Tuesday, Orange County Line train 609 will bring fans from Oceanside to Union Station, while a special train will be offered for passengers to their return destination. The station events will include Dodger attractions including a pitching inflatable, photo opportunities and autograph signings. Both days, all Little League and other youth baseball players who are dressed in their team uniforms can ride free with a fare paying adult.Metrolink tickets will be available the day of the event at Orange County Line stations. Adult round-trip tickets are just $7, while senior/disabled and youth (ages 6-18) tickets are just $6 and $4, respectively. Children ages 5 years and under ride free with a paying adult. Tickets can be purchased on the day of the game only, while no advanced ticket sales are available from the Metrolink ticket vending machines (TVM). The May 27 Rail Series special train is the only Metrolink service offered on Memorial Day, with the exception of a pair of round-trip Antelope Valley Line trains. Ticket information can be found by visiting www.metrolinktrains.com/railseries.Metrolink is partnering with the Dodgers, Angels, the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC), Metro, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and the City of Fullerton to provide transportation to the Rail Series.The special Metrolink train service will complement the Dodger Stadium Express buses operated by Metro from L.A. Union Station to Dodger Stadium and back. For the fourth consecutive year, LA Metro is offering the Dodger Stadium Express bus service. Dodger game day tickets are honored as payment to ride the bus service and the shuttle operates 90 minutes before the game and 45 minutes after the game. Fans are encouraged to use the many transportation alternatives that serve Union Station and that will connect them to the new Dodger Stadium Express. For specific route and schedule information, fans can visit www.metro.net or call 323.GO.METRO.In addition to the Rail Series and the Dodger Stadium Express, this season the Dodgers have also supported alternative transportation to Dodger Stadium through events such as Bike Week Los Angeles’ “Bikes Baseball and Dodger Blue Ride,” a special bicycle ride between Union Station and Dodger Stadium. More than 100 cyclists rode to Dodger Stadium on May 11. Additionally, the Dodgers encourage cycling to the ballpark all season long free parking and bike racks located in Dodger Stadium parking lots B, D, G, L, N and P.Tickets for the series against Anaheim can be purchased by visiting www.dodgers.com/tickets or by calling 866-DODGERS.

Saturday will mark the first bobblehead doll for Jarrin at Dodger Stadium.

I was taking a dump this morning and reading the LA Times sports section (one often leads to the other), and noted a piece regarding Matt Kemp's lingering shoulder issues, post-surgery. I guess we all knew there would be complications after this type of surgery, but Matt is young and great and gives cleats to sick kids and stuff, and he was ready for Spring Training, so I think many of us just glossed over the fact that many baseball players who have gone through the same surgery have experienced lingering issues for a long time afterward. Clearly, Kemp is in that category at this point. And even more evidently, it's getting to him. Kemp's frustration was obvious during early batting practice Friday when stormed out of the cage, snapped a bat over his knee and stomped into the clubhouse, where he declined to blame his struggles on his shoulder. The article goes into detail about how Kemp can't extend at the end of his swing, and the type of spin he needs to be getting on the ball, and so forth. The power: gone. Not sure what the solution is, other than time, something the Dodgers are quickly running out of. Perhaps SoSG softball team should look into this excuse for a lack of offense/power at the next softball tournament. I want to see SoSG AC break a bat over his knee.

Pitchers Chris Reed and Rob Rasmussen were outstanding on Friday as GM Ned Coletti watched from the stands