Don Mattingly didn’t exactly rule out the move (it sounded here like he was kidding) after Puig went 0 for 5 with two strikeouts Monday and appeared flustered by John Hirschbeck’s strike zone, arguing with the umpire from the Dodgers’ dugout in the fifth inning. Sunday, Puig failed to hit his cutoff man on a throw from right field and was picked off first base. In between, he was spotted out at a Miami Beach club with teammates Matt Kemp and Carl Crawford.
We can’t rule out the possibility that Puig is injured. However, it’s more likely that Mattingly became convinced that Puig would benefit from a day off in light of his mental miscues.
Skip Schumaker is playing right field and batting seventh. Mark Ellis is batting second. Here’s the full lineup:
Carl Crawford LF
Mark Ellis 2B
Adrian Gonzalez 1B
Hanley Ramirez SS
Andre Ethier CF
Juan Uribe 3B
Skip Schumaker RF
Tim Federowicz C
Chris Capuano P
Here’s how the Marlins will line up against the left-handed Capuano:
Christian Yelich LF
Donovan Solano 2B
Giancarlo Stanton RF
Logan Morrison 1B
Ed Lucas 3B
Justin Ruggiano CF
Adeiny Hechavarria SS
Jeff Mathis C
Jacob Turner P