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Dodgers-Brewers Preview

Aug 25, 2010 - 4:50 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Los Angeles (63-62) at Milwaukee (59-65), 8:10 p.m. EDT

Manny Ramirez hasn't looked sharp in two games for the Los Angeles Dodgers since coming back from his third trip to the disabled list this year. Perhaps it's because of the trade rumors swirling around him, although his manager thinks otherwise.

The Dodgers continue a three-game road series Wednesday night against the Milwaukee Brewers, and it appears that Ramirez's days with the club could be numbered.

There is speculation that Ramirez will be put on the waiver wire at the end of the week. Clubs looking to add the enigmatic hitter would need to put him on their roster by Aug. 31 to make him available for the postseason.

Ramirez, 0 for 7 in two games for the Dodgers (64-62) since returning, said he hasn't heard anything. Manager Joe Torre doesn't believe the rumors are affecting the slugger.

"You know I can't talk about what's going on, but just the attitude, I don't see any concern, first off in his game," Torre said. "You really are bred to deal with distractions. It's our job, and so, I don't see it affecting him at this point."

Ramirez went 0 for 4 in Tuesday's 5-3 victory while Dodgers newcomer Rod Barajas made a big impression. Barajas, claimed off waivers from the Mets on Sunday, had a three-run homer as part of his first three-hit game since April 30.

"Being an L.A. boy, growing up and cheering for these guys, I was nervous coming in here, I honestly was," said Barajas, who grew up in nearby Ontario, Calif.

Milwaukee's Randy Wolf (10-9, 4.67 ERA) will make his first start against the Dodgers after the team opted not to pursue him after he went 11-7 with a 3.23 ERA for Los Angeles last year. Wolf - a Southern California native - was initially upset that the Dodgers did not make a serious effort to retain him, and signed a $29.75 million, three-year contract with Milwaukee (59-66) in the offseason.

"I wasn't set on going back to L.A," Wolf said at the time. "When the Brewers came out very early and showed me that I was a priority this offseason, I looked at them a lot closer and realized this would be a great fit for me."

The left-hander has posted a 3.00 ERA in winning his last three starts. Wolf fell two outs shy of his first complete game since 2008 last Wednesday when he yielded one run in a 3-2 victory at St. Louis.

Dodgers starter Hiroki Kuroda (8-11, 3.48) is 0-3 with a 3.48 ERA in five starts since his last victory July 22 against the Mets. Kuroda has received seven runs of support during this winless stretch, and gave up two runs over seven innings last Wednesday in a 3-2, 10-inning loss to Colorado.

The right-hander is 10-3 with a 2.33 ERA against NL Central teams, accounting for 40 percent of his career victories. He won his lone career start against the Brewers on Aug. 4, 2009, by yielding three runs over six innings in a 17-4 victory.