Dodgers - 8/29/03 3rd place in the NL West
68-64, 12 games behind the Giants
1.5 games behind in Wild Card race

Week in Review
You'd think that a 2-4 week in the wild card race would be trouble; but instead the Dodgers gained one and a half games in the chase thanks to a horrible week from both the Phillies and Marlins. It's turned into a free for all with 30 games left in the season. The wild card is a virtual tie between the Phillies, Marlins, Expos and Astros/Cardinals. The Diamondbacks trail by one game and the Cubs and Dodgers trail by a game and a half. The Expos are currently the hottest team while the rest of the teams aren't playing particularly well.

Looking Ahead
The Dodgers finish the season with 15 home games and 15 road games. They face a tough road ahead with all but 3 games against NL West opponents, including 7 games against the D'Backs and 7 against the Giants. The Dodgers will have to pick up their game big time as they are just 19-30 against their NL West rivals.

Ishii, Alvarez in - Ashby out
Kazuhisa Ishii is set to return from the DL on Saturday against the Rockies. Ishii hasn't pitched since July 29th due to a sprained ligament in his left knee. Ishii said that he briefly experienced knee pain in his bullpen session on Wednesday but the Dodger coaching staff is satisfied that he's ready to return to the mound.

With Ishii joining the rotation, manager Jim Tracy has elected to stay with veteran Wilson Alvarez in the 5th spot and having Andy Ashby moved to long relief. In six starts, Alvarez is 2-1 with a 3.48 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 33.2 innings. Ashby has struggled for most of the season. In 12 starts, he is just 3-8 with a 5.67 ERA and a .322 BAA.

Gagne Sets Record
Closer Eric Gagne continued his nearly flawless season with his 44th straight save in one season, breaking Tom Gordon's record set in 1998. Gagne is now just 2 saves shy of Gordon's mark of 54 consecutive saves overall. Gagne has now saved nearly two-thirds of the Dodgers' 68 victories.

"It means nothing at all to me,'' Gagne said. "This is a team game and all (the 44 saves) means is that we won all those games. It's fun to win."

Manager Jim Tracy has begun to campaign for Gagne to win the NL Cy Young award which is clearly justified given his incredible season.

Injuries
Kazuhisa Ishii (SP) - 15-Day DL (sprained MCL)
Ishii is set to rejoin the rotation on Saturday against the Rockies. To be safe, you should sit Ishii until he proves that he is healthy. He hasn't pitched since July 29th.

Fred McGriff (1B) - active
McGriff returned to the lineup last Saturday against the Mets. Since his return, he's gone 2 for 13 with one homer and 2 RBI.

Jeromy Burnitz (OF) - active
Burnitz returned to action on Wednesday night after missing four games wiwth a strained groin. On Thursday he went 2-4 with a homer and 3 RBI against the Astros.

Todd Hundley (C) - Status: 15-day DL, irritation of sciatic nerve (back)
Hundley has begun a rehab assignment at Vero Beach and will likely be called up when rosters expand on September 1st.

Brian Jordan (OF) - 15-Day DL (strained patella tendon)
Darren Dreifort (SP) - 15-day DL (right knee)
Troy Brohawn (RP) - Status: 15-day DL, tendinitis in rotator cuff

Hot (last 7 days)
Cesar Izturis (SS): .316 (6-19), 1R, 2-2B, 1-3B, 2RBI

Not (last 7 days)
Adrian Beltre (3B): .130 (3-23), 1-2B, 2RBI
Alex Cora (2B): .143 (2-14), 1RBI
Fred McGriff (1B): .154 (2-14), 1RBI

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