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Pirates-Dodgers Preview

May 2, 2010 - 6:41 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Pittsburgh (10-14) at Los Angeles (10-14), 4:10 p.m. EDT

When Manny Ramirez went on the disabled list nine days ago, the Los Angeles Dodgers needed someone to step up and carry the offense.

Andre Ethier appears up to the task.

Having homered in each of the last two games and boasting a .350 batting average, Ethier looks to help the Dodgers win three in a row for the first time this season Sunday in the finale of a four-game home series with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

A strained right calf landed Ramirez on the DL on April 23. Los Angeles (10-14) immediately began to struggle, totaling 13 runs and batting .185 while dropping six of its next seven games.

The two-time defending NL West champions broke out of their funk by beating the Pirates 6-2 on Friday, and followed that up Saturday with a 5-1 victory. Ethier was instrumental in both wins.

After hitting a two-run homer Friday, the right fielder went 3 for 4 on Saturday with a three-run shot and two doubles, increasing his season totals to seven home runs and a team-high 22 RBIs.

Ethier, whose 22 homers at Dodger Stadium last year were a record for a left-handed batter, is hitting .432 with five home runs and 14 RBIs in nine home games this season, helping the Dodgers open 6-3 at Chavez Ravine compared with a 4-11 road mark.

While Ethier is leading the offense, Hiroki Kuroda (2-1, 2.36 ERA) has been the team's most effective starting pitcher.

The rotation's ERA leader, Kuroda has thrived on pinpoint control, issuing only three unintentional walks in 26 2-3 innings over his four starts. Two of those came at New York on Tuesday, when the right-hander gave up two runs over six solid innings, but got charged with a 4-0 loss against Johan Santana.

Kuroda is 2-1 with a 2.74 ERA in four career starts against the Pirates.

Like Los Angeles had been until the weekend, Pittsburgh's offense is slumping, having totaled five runs and batted .191 in the first three games of this series, which included a 2-0 victory in Thursday night's opener.

The Pirates (10-14) could have Garrett Jones back in the lineup after the right fielder spent several hours Saturday in the hospital. Jones, who has four home runs and a team-best 14 RBIs, checked himself in because of digestive problems after food he ate Friday became stuck in his throat.

"He's feeling a little better, but a little tired, obviously," manager John Russell said. "He went through a lot (Saturday) and it was kind of a long day for him, but he was in good spirits. We'll see how he is (Sunday)."

Russell will give the ball to Jeff Karstens (0-0, 2.70), who looks to build on an impressive season debut.

The Pirates summoned Karstens from Triple-A Indianapolis last week, optioning the ineffective Daniel McCutchen to the minors. Facing a Milwaukee team that had beaten the Pirates 22 consecutive times at Miller Park, Karstens allowing two runs and six hits in 6 2-3 solid innings before Pittsburgh rallied from behind for a 7-3 victory.

Karstens is 0-1 with a 4.32 ERA in starts and one relief appearance versus the Dodgers.

This is the final meeting of the season series, which is tied at three games apiece.