Detroit @ Los Angeles preview
Dodger Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jun 15, 2008 ) LA Dodgers 4, Detroit 5
The Los Angeles Dodgers have had trouble keeping Manny Ramirez out of the training room.
So perhaps it’s ironic that Ramirez’s latest injury occurred in the training room.
The Dodgers left fielder injured the little toe on his left foot prior to Wednesday’s game against the San Diego Padres by accidentally kicking a table. It happened while he was in the trainer’s room getting loose before the game.
Ramirez, who was utilized as a pinch hitter in Wednesday’s game, didn’t play Thursday and it is uncertain if he’ll be healthy enough to play in the field tonight when the Dodgers open a three-game interleague series against the visiting Detroit Tigers.
Ramirez has been an offensive asset when he plays, but he’s seen action in just 23 of Los Angeles’ first 41 games this season. He had a stint on the disabled list earlier this season due to a calf injury.
Ramirez is hitting .352 in 71 at-bats with 19 RBIs. He has just two home runs.
Any time he misses right now only magnifies the loss of standout right fielder Andre Ethier, who will be out for at least another three weeks after breaking his pinkie. Ethier went on the disabled list earlier this week.
Ramirez had seven RBIs in a seven-game span prior to the toe injury.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers will be facing a Tigers squad that has won seven of nine games to move into a first-place tie with the Minnesota Twins in the American League Central.
First baseman Miguel Cabrera (nine homers, 38 RBIs) and rookie center fielder Austin Jackson (.329) have been having outstanding seasons for Detroit.
Closer Jose Valverde has 11 saves to go with a 0.48 ERA. Valverde hasn’t allowed a run in his last 18 appearances. He has given up just one earned run this season, that occurring way back on April 7.
Left-hander Dontrelle Willis be on the mound for Detroit. He often struggled against the Dodgers when he pitched in the National League for the Florida Marlins.
Willis is 1-5 lifetime in seven starts against Los Angeles. He has a 6.93 ERA and Dodgers hitters have a collective .303 batting average against him.
Willis has won just two games in two-plus seasons with the Tigers. He’s 1-1 this season with a 4.68 ERA.
He has had control issues and has walked 22 batters in 32 2/3 innings. He walked seven hitters in 3 1/3 innings in his most recent start against the Boston Red Sox.
Chad Billingsley will be on the mound for the Dodgers, having won three of his past four starts. He pitched 7 1/3 innings of shutout ball in beating San Diego in his last start. Billingsley allowed just four hits during a 1-0 victory.
Overall, Billingsley is 4-2 with a 4.03 ERA in eight starts.
The Dodgers hold a 5-4 advantage in interleague games against Detroit but were swept in a three-game series in 2008 the last time the two teams met.