Yasiel Puig, Justin Turner get a day off as Freeway Series begins.

Yasiel Puig and Justin Turner are not in the Dodgers’ lineup Monday, the first of four games this week against the Angels. It’s a routine day off for both players, manager Dave Roberts said, who will expect to see plenty of plate appearances the rest of this week.

For Puig, it’s a day to rest his body and his mind:
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The Dodgers challenged to invoke the ‘Chase Utley Rule’ on a play involving Chase Utley.

Here’s a funny one: The Dodgers used a challenge Thursday to review a call involving Rule 6.01(j), the “Chase Utley rule,” and Utley was involved in the play.

Irony aside, there was an important takeaway: the proper application of the new rule still isn’t entirely clear.

The play took place in the fifth inning of the Dodgers’ 2-1 loss to the Angels. With a runner (Yunel Escobar) at first base, Utley fielded a ground ball and threw to shortstop Corey Seager covering second base. Escobar missed the bag, missed Seager, and made no attempt to touch second base as he slid past. See for yourself:

The Dodgers lost the challenge.

Manager Dave Roberts explained his position after the game.
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Corey Seager (knee) and Joc Pederson (?) leave Dodgers’ game against Angels.

Corey Seager

Corey Seager went 1 for 2 with a single against the Angels on Friday. (Getty Images)

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager and center fielder Joc Pederson exited the Dodgers’ 8-4 loss to the Angels on Friday earlier than usual.
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Watch: Scott Kazmir reflects on his second Spring Training start.

TEMPE, Ariz. — Dodgers pitcher Scott Kazmir was scheduled to throw three innings today. The Angels had other plans.

Kazmir was touched for six hits and five runs (all earned) in 1 ⅔ innings at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Only one of the six hits went for extra bases: a triple by Mike Trout, who also worked a walk.

That was of some reassurance to Kazmir. So was his ability to get ahead in the count, and the fact that all his pitches were working to his satisfaction.

So what happened? Here’s what he said after the game:


Game 139: The win meant more to the Angels than the loss did to the Dodgers.

Scott Schebler

Scott Schebler hit a home run on the first pitch of Wednesday’s game, a 3-2 Dodgers loss. (Keith Birmingham/Staff photographer)

ANAHEIM — The Angels were starting their number one, Garrett Richards, and the Dodgers were starting their number seven (eight?), Joe Wieland. The Giants had lost earlier in the day, while the Angels needed a win just to stay within four games of the second wild-card position in the American League. All things considered, forging a 2-2 tie in the eighth inning before losing 3-2 wasn’t such a tragic outcome — particularly when you consider the Angels had not led the Dodgers after a single inning in their previous eight meetings prior to Wednesday.

The box score is here. The photo gallery is here.

The Dodgers are getting a boost from Justin Ruggiano, writes Mark Whicker.

Mat Latos was scratched from his start with a stiff neck.
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