The Dodgers open a homestand Friday night against the Florida Marlins, and figure to do so with some reinforcements. Reliever Blake Hawksworth and Casey Blake are expected to be activated from the disabled list, while Andre Ethier and Rod Barajas are both expected to be back in the lineup after three days off. Jon Garland gets the start for the Dodgers, facing Javier Vasquez of the Marlins.
The lineup help is much needed by the Dodgers, who have scored just 2.78 runs per game in May. The Dodgers lost two of three games in Miami from April 25-27. Garland started the first of those games, and the Dodgers held a 4-3 lead into the ninth inning, but Jonathan Broxton blew his first save of the season. The Dodgers have had massive bullpen in the month since, so much so that the team has had six different players collect a save this month alone.
Garland is 1-4 with a 4.75 ERA in seven starts this season, and is coming off his worst start of the year. Garland has had five days rest since allowing seven runs in 3 2/3 innings in Chicago last Saturday. Vasquez is 3-4 with a 6.41 ERA this season, but he is coming off his best start of the year, pitching seven scoreless innings against the Rays. Florida has won five of their last six games, and at 29-19 have the second best record in the National League.
Tonight's 7:10 p.m. PDT game will be televised by Prime Ticket. For more news and information on the Dodgers, or on tonight's game, be sure to read the SB Nation blog True Blue LA.