Before Sunday’s series finale in Chicago against the White Sox, the Dodgers activated shortstop Rafael Furcal from the disabled list. Furcal missed 37 games after breaking his left thumb in a headfirst slide on April 11 in San Francisco. Unfortunately for the Dodgers, however, to make room for Furcal the Dodgers lost another starting infielder as Juan Uribe was placed on the 15-day disabled list with an left hip flexor strain.
The Dodgers were 6-4 when Furcal broke his thumb, including 5-2 with Furcal in the lineup. Since Furcal went on the disabled list, the Dodgers are 15-22. Jamey Carroll, who is hitting .318/.373/.382 this season, has filled in very capably at shortstop in Furcal’s absence, starting 34 of 37 games at the position. Carroll figures to take over at second base with Uribe on the DL.
Dodger leadoff batters this season are hitting just .236/.290/.281, though part of that can be attributed to manager Don Mattingly inexplicably batting Tony Gwynn and Aaron Miles at leadoff a total of 19 times this season. Furcal was 5-for-13 with a double and a home run in a four-game rehab assignment with Triple A Albuqerque earlier this week, though he did injure his left knee during a slide in his final rehab game. Furcal tested the knee on Saturday in Chicago, and was deemed fit to play today.
The Dodgers have had 12 different players make 15 total trips to the disabled list this season.
Today’s 11:10 a.m. PDT game will be televised on Prime Ticket and WGN. For more news and information on the Dodgers, or on today’s game, be sure to read the SB Nation blog True Blue LA.