Why Justin Turner started over Dee Gordon.

Justin Turner

Justin Turner (left) was given the start at second base Friday over Dee Gordon (right). (Associated Press photo)

SAN FRANCISCO >> Dee Gordon didn’t look like himself walking around the visitors’ clubhouse Friday. His head was mostly down, the hood on his sweatshirt mostly up.

Gordon wasn’t in the starting lineup for Friday’s game against Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner, which prompted a question about whether or not the Dodgers’ second baseman was healthy or not.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Gordon is fine health-wise; that’s not the problem.

“He was mad,” Mattingly said.

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Dodgers 4, San Diego Padres 0: Tonight’s game story.

Carl Crawford

Carl Crawford went 4 for 4 and his three doubles tied a single-game team record. (John McCoy/Staff photographer)


Dan Haren‘s ERA is under 4.00 for the first time since June. How did he do it? Click here for the game story and box score.

Dee Gordon didn’t play today, but he is no longer sliding head-first. More on that in today’s notebook.

‘Frustrated’ Yasiel Puig gets a day off against the San Diego Padres.

Yasiel Puig

Yasiel Puig is 1 for 11 in his career against San Diego Padres starter Andrew Cashner. (Andy Holzman/Staff photographer)

SAN DIEGO >> Dodgers manager Don Mattingly benched slumping outfielder Yasiel Puig for the first game of the Dodgers’ series against the Padres.

Andre Ethier is starting in center field for the first time in six days.

Puig is hitless in his last 18 plate appearances. He’s also 1 for 11 against the Padres’ starting pitcher, right-hander Andrew Cashner. His .091 batting average against Cashner is the lowest against any opponent he’s seen at least 10 times.

“He seems frustrated to us,” Mattingly said. “Just felt the extra day, with the matchups, it seems like it was the right thing to do today.”

Continue reading “‘Frustrated’ Yasiel Puig gets a day off against the San Diego Padres.” »

Dodgers second baseman Dee Gordon: ‘I need a day off.’

Dee Gordon

Dee Gordon had been caught stealing in three of his previous seven stolen-base attempts coming into the weekend series against the Chicago Cubs. (Sarah Reingewirtz/Staff photographer)

The problem might have become obvious just before the Dodgers’ series against the Chicago Cubs.

Dee Gordon had been caught stealing in three of his previous seven attempts. That’s good for a lot of runners, not so much for the man who leads the major leagues with 51 steals. So Gordon gets a day off today against the Chicago Cubs.

“It wasn’t really planned,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. “I was kind of trying to wait for a lefty. I just felt like he — you could tell — different coaches were coming to me, ‘Dee looks like he needs a day.’ Leg wise, things like that. So we wanted to make sure we took care of him.”

Mattingly said he doesn’t trust Gordon to come to him and report an injury. “He’s kind of probably a little bit nervous about saying he needs a day,” the manager said. So, he trusted the coaches.

Turns out the coaches were right.
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