Dodgers Vs. Marlins Preview: Haren On The Mound, Ethier In Lineup Again

[new_royalslider id=”42″] Returning home hasn’t proven beneficial for the Los Angeles Dodgers thus far as they lost three of four games to the San Francisco Giants, which has put them further behind the NL West leaders and longtime rival.

Monday offers no rest for the weary with the Miami Marlins coming to town for a three-game set. The Dodgers and Marlins played last weekend, which ended in the Dodgers dropping two of three to the Marlins. Despite admitting to pitching with a back that was more sore than usual, Dan Haren is back on the mound for the Dodgers without missing any time.

Facing the Marlins may not prove too easy for Haren, who is 1-6 lifetime with a 3.81 ERA against them. Haren made three starts against the Marlins last season and lost each of them. Haren’s lone win against the Marlins was a complete-game effort in 2009 when the right-hander was with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

This season, Haren is 4-1 with a 2.68 ERA in seven starts. The 33-year-old was undefeated before losing in his most recent start against the Washington Nationals. Despite the impressive start to the year, it’s somewhat been a season of high-wire acts for Haren. On multiple occasions, the right-hander has had to work himself out of jams and earned every bit of his wins.

Starting for the Marlins Tom Koehler, who is 3-2 this season also through seven starts. Along with two no-decisions, Koehler has alternated wins and losses this season. The 27-year-old has thrown at least seven innings in his last two starts without allowing a run. One of the starts, the right-hander pitched seven innings in a Marlins 6-3 win over the Dodgers.

Carl Crawford, Andre Ethier and Dee Gordon have all had six at-bats against Koehler, with Gordon being the only one to have any success in the small sample size. Ethier will get the opportunity to improve on his .167 average against the right-hander as he earns his second consecutive start. Juan Uribe remains out of the lineup, however manager Don Mattingly stated Uribe may be available t pinch-hit.

Dodgers lineup:

2B: Gordon

RF: Puig

SS: Ramirez

1B: Gonzalez

CF: Kemp

LF: Ethier

3B: Turner

C: Butera

P: Haren

Marlins lineup:

LF: Yelich

2B: Dietrich

RF: Stanton

3B: McGehee

C: Saltalamacchia

1B: Jones

CF: Ozuna

SS: Hechavarria

P: Koehler
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