The Dodgers have claimed righty starting pitcher Esteban Loaiza off waivers from the Oakland A’s.  Loaiza has missed most of this season due to injury but he has been sharp in his only two starts for the A’s this year.  He in 1-0 with a 1.84 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP this season for the A’s.  In 14.2 innings he has allowed only 10 hits, walked 4 batters and whiffed 5.  Loaiza has a career major league record of 124-108 with a 4.60 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP but he will likely pitch well for the Dodgers the rest of the season.  The only catch for the Dodgers is that they are now on the hook for at least $8.4 million dollars owed to Loaiza for the rest of his contract.

The Dodgers have designated Brett Tomko for assignment and he definately deserved to go.  He has pitched in 33 games (15 starts) and he is 2-11 with a 5.80 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP.  In 104 innings this season for the Dodgers Tomko has allowed 124 hits, walked 42 batters and whiffed 79. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed veteran lefty starter David Wells and they will start him on Sunday against the New York Mets.  Wells started 22 games this season for the Padres and he was 5-8 with a 5.54 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP.  A closer look at the numbers tell you that you shouldn’t expect too much out of Wells.  Wells was 3-2 with a 3.91 ERA at Petco Park which is probably the best pitcher’s park in all of baseball.  On the road however, Wells was 2-6 with a 7.99 ERA and he is 1-3 with a 10.72 ERA since the All-Star Break.

Juan Pierre might always be the smallest player on the field for the Dodgers but he’s really being a pest to the opposition lately.  In the 2nd half of the season Pierre has played in 37 games and he is 46 for 146 (.315 avg, .730 OPS) with 22 runs scored, 9 RBIs and 16 stolen bases.  Rafael Furcal and Juan Pierre are both starting to go good at the same time and it’s getting the Dodgers’ offense going.  Pierre has now played in 126 games this season and he is 151 for 519 (.291 avg, .673 OPS) with 74 runs scored, 0 homers, 30 RBIs and 50 stolen bases.

The Dodgers have placed starting 3B Nomar Garciaparra on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left calf.  He was not having his best season in 2007 as he seems to have lost his power.  He has played in 110 games this season and he is 111 for 397 (.280 avg, .689 OPS) with 37 runs scored, 6 homers and 57 RBIs.  Shea Hillenbrand has been recalled from AAA and he will likely start at 3B until Garciaparra is ready to return.   In his first game with the Dodgers he went 0 for 2.