Los Angeles Dodgers

Rafael Furcal is ready to rejoin the Dodgers—finally.

After a longer than expected stint on the disabled list, Furcal will be reactivated on Tuesday, as Los Angeles opens up a three game series at Wrigley Field against the Cubs.

Furcal has been inactive since April with a strained hamstring, and was originally slated to return on May 14. However, the tightness persisted, and additional healing time was required.

Breaking news from reports Enrique Rojas of ESPNDeportes  (via Twitter): Former MLB pitcher, Jose Lima has passed away. 

Jose Lima has reportedly died in his home in Los Angeles after suffering a massive heart attack. 

The first 40 games of the season are in the books, and when compiling the report card for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the first quarter can pretty much be summed up in two words — roller coaster.

Undoubtedly, injuries have plagued the boys in blue already during the young season.

At some point or another, the Dodgers have had seven players visit the disabled list, and have heavily relied on bench play or minor league call-ups to pick up the slack.

Maybe the starting line-up should just take a nap before games.

On Wednesday night, pre-game warm-ups claimed another Dodger victim, just minutes before the first pitch against the San Diego Padres.

Manny Ramirez was warming up his aging legs, performing an exercise he does every day before the game begins. The left fielder was swinging his legs in the recreational room, attempting to stretch out his hamstring, when he got too close to a table and struck it with his foot.

Carl Yastrzemski
Frank Robinson
Mickey Mantle
Ted Williams
Joe Medwick
Lou Gehrig
Jimmie Foxx
Chuck Klein
Rogers Hornsby

Andre Ethier?

The first nine names on this list are those of the men who have won the Triple Crown since the end of the Dead-ball Era.

The tenth is the name of one of baseball's best and brightest young sluggers to emerge in some time.

But does Andre Ethier have what it takes to add his name to the list of baseball legends who succeeded in achieving perhaps baseball's most difficult accomplishment?

Simply stated, the answer is no.

Times are changing.

Back in 1989, one needed to make a trip to the local newsstand and gather the courage to purchase a copy of Penthouse magazine to get the dirty lowdown on a big league player, if one trusted the testimony of an alleged mistress.

After a lackluster April to start the season, the Dodgers have rallied off seven straight wins and return home two games back in the National League West after completing a three-game sweep of the first-place San Diego Padres.

In a much anticipated home series with divisional rival Los Angeles, the Friday night fireworks at PETCO Park would be the only explosion Padres fans would see for the rest of the weekend.

Eager to see the Padres' new bats take on the Dodgers for the first time this season, Friars fans instead saw 17 scoreless innings to close the series.

Just chill, Giants—we got this.

After sweeping aside the San Francisco Giants in a three-game series, the San Diego Padres had the favor returned to them by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The sweep put the Dodgers just two games back of the Friars for first place, and San Diego now sits just a half-game ahead of the Giants.

For the Dodgers, it marked their seventh win in a row and ninth in their last 10 games. The Dodgers finished the road trip a perfect 6-0, having swept the struggling Arizona Diamondbacks before arriving in San Diego.

Sometimes it isn't just about statistics.

Dan Haren, the ace of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitching staff, was conducting a clinic Tuesday night at Chase Field when Manny Ramirez approached the plate in the top of the fourth inning.

All nine outs recorded by Haren prior to facing Ramirez were strikeouts, and Haren was keen on continuing to uphold his brilliance.

On May 12, 2010, the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated their first sweep of the season, defeating the Arizona Diamondback in a three-game series.

With the help of six consecutive losses from the stumbling D'backs, coupled with a four-game winning streak of their own, the Dodgers have climbed out of the bottom of the National League West.

The last three games against the D'backs have showcased a potent Dodgers offense headlined by a healthy Manny Ramirez and Andre Ethier, NL Leader in all Triple Crown categories.