The Dodgers have placed shortstop Rafael Furcal on the 15-day disabled list with a strained lower back. Furcal has played in 32 games for the Dodgers this season and he was 49 for 134 (.366 avg, 1.045 OPS) with 34 runs scored, 5 homers, 16 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. Furcal will be replaced at shortstop by Chin-Lung Hu and Luis Maza. Hu has played in 31 games this season for the Dodgers and he is 11 for 58 (.190 avg, .484 OPS) with 7 runs scored and 5 RBIs. Luis Maza is off to a solid start for the Dodgers. In 4 games for the Dodgers, Maza is 4 for 10 (.400 avg, .855 OPS) with 2 runs scored and 1 RBI. Maza was incredible in 33 AAA games this season as he was 51 for 127 (.402 avg, .993 OPS) with 26 runs scored, 1 homer and 15 RBIs. No matter how good Hu & Maza play the Dodgers will miss Furcal for what he brings to the table.

The Dodgers have placed righty starter Esteban Loaiza on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder blade tightness. He has pitched in 7 games (3 starts) this season for the Dodgers and he is 1-2 with a 5.63 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. Loaiza will be replaced on the roster by righty reliever Yhency Brazoban who pitched in 14 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA ball this season and he was 0-1 with 2 saves, a 2.45 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP. The Dodgers will likely use 26-year old lefty Hong-Chih Kuo to replace Loaiza in the starting rotation. Kuo has pitched in 8 games (3 starts) for the Dodgers this season and he is 2-1 with a 2.59 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. Kuo has whiffed 33 batters in only 24.1 innings this season for the Dodgers which shows how nasty his stuff has been.

20-year old lefty starter Clayton Kershaw is off to a fantasic start to his season. He has started 6 games in AA-ball so far this season and he is 0-3 with a 1.11 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. Kershaw has whiffed 36 batters and only allowed 23 hits in 32.1 innings so far this season which shows what kind of nasty stuff he has. Kershaw is the #1 prospect in the entire Dodgers’ system according to Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook. The Dodgers need to resist the temptation of rushing Kershaw to the majors before he is ready.

The Dodgers spent over $36 million bucks over the off season to secure the services of center fielder Andruw Jones for two seasons and it’s looking like a huge mistake. Jones has played in 30 games this season for the Dodgers and he is 16 for 98 (.163 avg, .529 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 1 homer and 4 RBIs. Jones has also whiffed an alarming 34 times already this season! The Dodgers do have the option of replacing Jones with Juan Pierre. Pierre was beaten out for the left field job by Andre Ethier but he has kept focused and productive. Pierre has played in 23 games for the Dodgers this season and he is 22 for 68 (.324 avg, .777 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 11 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. Pierre would be a huge downgrade defensively from Jones but the Dodgers might have to think of making this move in the near future.

Rafael Furcal played hurt last season and that’s why he didn’t look like his usual self. But, this season Furcal is healthy and the Dodgers’ are benefitting big time for it. Furcal has played in 31 games this season for the Dodgers and he is 48 for 130 (.369 avg, 1.038 OPS) with 33 runs scored, 4 homers, 15 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. Furcal is the player that makes it all go for the Dodgers and it’s no surprise that the team has gotten hot along with him.