Dodgers Vs. Marlins Preview: Puig Looking To Extend Hitting Streak

[new_royalslider id=”13″] Dan Haren won just his second career game against the Miami Marlins with a seven-inning effort that gave the weary bullpen an opportunity to rest. Though manager Don Mattingly used three relievers, two of them logged less than an inning of work.

Looking to keep the Dodgers on the winning track and perhaps give the bullpen another night of minimal work is Josh Beckett. The former Marlin is still in search of his first win this season, sporting an 0-1 record with a 2.80 ERA in six starts. Beckett finished with four consecutive no-decisions to start the season before suffering his first loss, which coincidentally was to the Marlins.

The 33-year-old right-hander limited the Marlins to two runs through 6.2 innings before allowing an RBI single to pinch-hitting Reed Johnson, who later came around to score, marking the fourth earned run Beckett was charged with in the loss. In his 14-year career, Beckett is 0-2 lifetime with a 5.27 ERA against the Marlins.

Starting opposite Beckett is Jacob Turner. The young right-hander has made three starts this year and is still without a decision. Turner allowed six runs in four innings to the Dodgers in a home start on May 3. He’s tasked with the responsibility of ending the Marlins’ four-game skid.

Not only is the team from south Florida mired in a losing streak, they are one day removed from learning ace of the pitching staff and reigning NL Rookie of the Year, Jose Fernandez, was placed on the disabled list with a sprained right elbow and may be lost to season-ending elbow surgery.

After performing well in back-to-back games, Andre Ethier is replaced in left field by Carl Crawford, who remains in the sixth spot of the order. Yasiel Puig will get the opportunity to shine on his bobblehead night from the familiar second spot in the lineup, sandwiched between Dee Gordon and Hanley Ramirez.

Puig has a 12-game hitting streak and has homered in consecutive games for the first time this season and third time in his career. Puig’s lone hit in three career at-bats against turner is the towering three-run home run he hit in Turner’s last start against the Dodgers.

Dodgers lineup

2B: Gordon

RF: Puig

SS: Ramirez

1B: Gonzalez

CF: Kemp

LF: Etier

3B: Turner

C: Butera

P: Beckett

Marlins lineup

LF: Yelich

SS: Hechavarria

RF: Stanton

3B: McGehee

C: Saltalamacchia

1B: Jones

CF: Ozuna

2B: Dietrich

P: Turner
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dodgers Pre Game: Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, Clayton Kershaw And Yasiel Puig