Pitching Musical Chairs Continue - Wall Down, Guerra Up - And Other Dodgers News

Josh Wall has been absolutely shelled this year.  He had a good rookie campaign last season in limited play, but took some big lumps this season coming out of the pen.  As a result, the Dodgers have decided to send him back to Albuquerque, and have brought up Javy Guerra.  Per a Dodgers press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today recalled right-handed pitcher Javy Guerra (#48) from Triple-A Albuquerque and optioned right-hander Josh Wall to Albuquerque. Guerra, 27, has been in a starting role for the Isotopes this season and has gone 0-2 with a 4.02 ERA in four starts, last pitching on Friday and allowing four runs (two earned) in 5.0 innings (85 pitches). Guerra made three scoreless appearances for the Dodgers during Spring Training before being optioned on March 17, allowing just two hits in 2.2 innings. In two Major League seasons (2011-12), Guerra has gone 4-5 with 29 saves in 36 opportunities and a 2.45 ERA in 92 games with the Dodgers. 

Wall went 0-1 with an 18.00 ERA (14 ER/7.0 IP) in six appearances since his recall on April 15.

Guerra has been starting games in Albuquerque, so he will have a different role with the Dodgers.  I think it's likely he'll be doing some long relief for the team.  After a run of bad games, I suspect this is an especially needed role.

(pic credit: Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2012)

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The Dodgers also passed along some daily notes.  Below are some pertinent items:

LEFT IS RIGHT: The Dodgers hope to get back on track tonight against a left-handed starter with the team posting a combined .293 batting average against lefties:

Highest Team Batting Avg. vs. Left-handers

1. Milwaukee Brewers                    .293
2. Los Angeles Dodgers                  .293
3. Kansas City Royals                     .290
4. Detroit Tigers                              .285
5. Cincinnati Reds                           .285

• Several Los Angeles hitters rank among the league’s best this season against left-handers, including Mark Ellis (.417, T-5th), Adrian Gonzalez (.385, 10th), A.J. Ellis (.350, 15th) and Matt Kemp (.345, 16th).
• Kemp (10-for-23, 3 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI), Gonzalez (10-for-28, 2 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI) and Freddy Sanchez tie for the most all-time hits (10) against tonight’s Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa.

A TWEET FEAT: For each strikeout this year, Head & Shoulders will donate $1 to MLB’s Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program as a part of their “Season of Whiff” campaign. Fans can raise more money for the Los Angeles RBI program through the “Season of the Whiff” campaign by tweeting “#Whiff @Dodgers.” The team with the most #whiff tweets at the end of each month of the regular season will win $10,000 for their RBI program. With just one day remaining in April, the Dodgers are in the running for the most #whiff tweets, among MLB teams, so keep tweeting!

HOME COOKING: Carl Crawford went 1-for-3 last night and continues to rank among the National League leaders with a .388 batting average (19-for-49) at home. Crawford has hit safely in 10 of 13 games at Dodger Stadium with seven multi-hit games.

COLORADO CRUSHERS: Matt Kemp is tied with Adrian Beltre for the most homers against Colorado by an active player with 24 home runs, joining Adrian Gonzalez (16 HR, T-5th) on that leaderboard. The duo also ranks among the top run producers against the Rockies:

RBI vs. Colorado, Active Players

1. Adrian Beltre                      94
2. Matt Kemp                         81
3. James Loney                       75
4. Adrian Gonzalez                  71
5. Albert Pujols                       65
10. Andre Ethier                      55

• Overall, Gonzalez ranks ninth in the NL with a .333 batting average, while ranking among the league leaders in on-base percentage (.404, 9th), hits (30, T-8th), doubles (7, T-10th) and multi-hit games (9, T-9th). Gonzalez also ranks sixth in the NL with a .455 mark with runners in scoring position (10-for-22).
• #VOTE BLUE: In-stadium All-Star balloting is underway for this year’s Midsummer Classic, which takes place on July 16 at Citi Field in New York. Fans are encouraged to punch paper ballots at home games through June 7 and visit Dodgers.com to cast votes online through July 4 at 8:59 p.m. PT. 

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