First-place Dodgers take on the New York Mets in a three-game series starting tomorrow

The first-place Dodgers' ninth homestand of the season concludes with a three-game series against the New York Mets starting tomorrow, Friday, August 22 at 7:10 p.m. (LHP Jonathon Niese vs. RHP Dan Haren), Saturday, August 23 at 6:10 p.m. (RHP Jacob deGrom vs. RHP Zack Greinke) and Sunday, August 24 at 1:10 p.m. (RHP Bartolo Colon vs. RHP Kevin Correia). All auto gates open at 4:30 p.m. and all stadium gates open at 5:00 p.m. tomorrow. All auto gates open at 3:30 p.m. and all stadium gates open at 4:00 p.m. Saturday and all auto gates open at 10:30 a.m. and all stadium gates open at 11:00 a.m. Sunday.

For the series against the Mets, Levy Restaurants will offer a special extreme loaded dog, the New York Dog, an all-beef hot dog topped with Sabrett's onions in sauce, sauerkraut and spicy brown mustard. It will be available tomorrow through Friday at extreme loaded dog concession stands on the Field, Loge and Reserve levels.
 
The Dodgers' Seventh Annual ThinkCure! Weekend takes place on Friday and Saturday, with in-stadium events and fundraising when the Dodgers take on the Mets with coverage on SportsNet LA and Dodgers Radio - KLAC AM 570 as well as KLOVE 107.5, KSCA 101.9, KRCD 103.9/ 98.3 and KTNQ 1020AM. Fans can participate by donating to ThinkCure!, which funds collaborative cancer research done by City of Hope and Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Since its inception, ThinkCure! has donated $1.8 million to the two Los Angeles research hospitals. Donations can be made by texting CURE to 50555 or donating via credit card or cash at the stadium. Fans can also donate online at www.thinkcure.org.
 
The Dodgers take on the Mets at 7:10 p.m. tomorrow. All auto gates open at 4:30 p.m. and all stadium gates open at 5:00 p.m. Fans are invited onto the field for Friday Night Fireworks presented by Denny's immediately following the game. In an effort to continue to be good neighbors to the residents surrounding Dodger Stadium, fireworks shows will take place before 11:00 p.m. and are subject to cancellation due to length of game. Tomorrow's show is themed to LGBT night at Dodger Stadium and will feature music by DJ Manny Lehman.
 
The second annual LGBT Night Out at Dodger Stadium will be held tomorrow. This special event was designed by the Dodgers in partnership with Tom Whitman and Flip Events. Billy Bean, newly named as MLB's first Ambassador of Inclusion, will participate in pre-game activities in support of LGBT Night Out at Dodger Stadium.
 
Two-time Grammy-nominated artist Mary Lambert will perform the national anthem. Lambert's current single, "Secrets," is out now and her debut album, "Heart On My Sleeve," will be released in October from Capitol Records. Stage and screen actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson will throw the ceremonial first pitch. Ferguson is a five-time Emmy nominee for his work on ABC's award-winning "Modern Family." Ferguson and his husband are co-founders of Tie The Knot, which raises funds for various organizations fighting for Marriage Equality on behalf of the LGBT community. Eric Stonestreet, who plays Ferguson's partner on "Modern Family," will also be on field for pregame festivities. Stonestreet, a well-known Dodger fan, has won two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as "Cam Tucker."
 
Alumni Leaguer Kenny Landreaux will sign autographs in the left-field pavilion plaza from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Landreaux will sign autographs in the Stadium club from 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. A DJ will provide musical entertainment in the right-field pavilion plaza.
 
The Veteran of the Game presented by Bank of America is U.S. Army Corporal Sudy Ayvazian fof Inglewood. He was drafted in 1943 following the attack on Pearl Harbor and served with the Medical Detachment 23rd Infantry as a non-commissioned medical officer. Ayvazian served in France and Germany during World War II. His accolades include a World War II Victory Medal and American Campaign Medal.  

As part of Kids 4 Dodgers Baseball, 250 youngsters from Daniel Phelan Elementary School in Whittier will be in attendance. Kids 4 Dodgers Baseball provides Los Angeles area inner-city youth with a Dodger game experience courtesy of the Dodgers. Transportation to and from Dodger Stadium in a customized Dodger bus, Reserve level tickets, a voucher for a Dodger Dog and beverage and a Kids 4 Dodgers Baseball T-shirt are included.
 
The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) will hold a silent auction on the Club level by the Vin Scully Press Box. The auction ends at 8:45 p.m. with more than 25 items up for bid, including a Clayton Kershaw autographed baseball, Andre Ethier autographed photo and Yasiel Puig autographed Dodger jersey. All proceeds will benefit LADF and its programs in sports and recreation, education and literacy and health and wellness which help children and families throughout the greater Los Angeles region.
 
The Dodgers will recognize Project Angel Food, celebrating its 25th anniversary of service to the LA community, prior to tomorrow's game. Project Angel Food volunteers and staff cook and deliver nutritious meals, free of charge, to homes throughout Los Angeles County to nourish the sick as they battle critical illness. In its 25 years of service, Project Angel Food has delivered more than nine million meals and served more than 17,000. Executive Director Laurie Lang and Board Chair Robert Bauer will be part of the on-field introduction.
 
Tomorrow, Friday, August 22

• Media gates - 3:10 p.m.
• Clubhouse open to media - 3:30 p.m.
• Mattingly media session - 4:05 p.m. (approximately)
• Dodger batting practice - 4:20 p.m. - 5:20 p.m.
• Auto gates - 4:30 p.m.
• Stadium gates - 5:00 p.m.
• Mets batting practice - 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
• Pregame ceremonies - 6:55 p.m.
• Game time - 7:10 p.m.

 
The Dodgers take on the Mets at 6:10 p.m. Saturday. All auto gates open at 3:30 p.m. and all stadium gates open at 4:00 p.m.
 
Ellie Smith, who has performed for millions throughout the US and has starred on stage in musicals including "Annie," "Sound of Music" and "Les Miserables" will perform the national anthem. Smith will be in Atlantic City representing her home State of Nevada in the Miss America Pageant in two weeks. Smith's first national anthem performance for the Dodgers was at the age of 9.
 
The Dodgers will play host to Pups at the Park presented by AvoDerm and Nylabone. Fans that purchase a special event ticket in the Coca-Cola All You Can Eat Right Field Pavilion are invited to bring their dogs to the park. The Dodgers will donate a portion of the proceeds raised from this event to the Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation. This event will feature a Pup Parade on the field starting at 5:00 p.m. This event is sold out.
 
Dodger Alumni League member Billy Ashley will sign autographs in the right-field pavilion plaza and Alumni Leaguer Dennis Powell will sign autographs in the left-field pavilion plaza from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Both will sign autographs in the Stadium club from 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. A DJ will provide musical entertainment in the right-field pavilion plaza.
 
As part of Kids 4 Dodgers Baseball, 250 youngsters from LaSalle Avenue Elementary School in South Los Angeles and New Congressional Missionary Church in South Los Angeles will be in attendance. Kids 4 Dodgers Baseball provides Los Angeles area inner-city youth with a Dodger game experience courtesy of the Dodgers. Transportation to and from Dodger Stadium in a customized Dodger bus, Reserve level tickets, a voucher for a Dodger Dog and beverage and a Kids 4 Dodgers Baseball T-shirt are included.
 
The Veteran of the Game presented by Bank of America is U.S. Air Force Reserve Technical Sergeant Robert Sumner of Palmdale. He enlisted in 1983 and is a reservist currently serving with the 412th Security Forces Squadron based at Edwards Air Force Base. His duties included flying missions to transport captured Al Qaida/Taliban prisoners. Sumner has served deployments to Egypt, Panama and Afghanistan. His accolades include an Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal with two stars. On behalf of Bank of America, Assistant Vice President, Corporate Recruiter, Global HR Staffing and U.S. Air Force veteran Michelle Fowler will present the Veteran of the Game with a commemorative flag that has been flown over Dodger Stadium.
 
In conjunction with the Boy Scouts of America, the Dodgers will play host to the 13th annual Scouts Day and Egg Drop Contest. Prior to the game, Boy Scouts will be dropping a device containing a raw egg from the top of Dodger Stadium into the Right Field Pavilion parking lot and the goal is to have the egg survive the fall. The Scouts will have an opportunity to work with their parents, packs and troops on the devices and will be rewarded for their efforts. Scouting is a family program that offers many events to have fun in a safe and learning environment.
 
Saturday, August 23

• Media gates - 2:10 p.m.
• Clubhouse open to media - 2:40 p.m.
• Auto gates - 3:30 p.m.
• Stadium gates - 4:00 p.m.
• Pregame ceremonies - 5:55 p.m.
• Game time - 6:10 p.m.

 
On Sunday, the Dodgers take on the Mets at 1:10 p.m. to conclude the three-game series and the ninth homestand of the season. The first 40,000 fans in attendance will receive a Matt Kemp figurine presented by New Era. All auto gates open at 10:30 a.m. and all stadium gates open at 11:00 a.m.
 
Lakers No.1 draft pick Julius Randle will throw the ceremonial first pitch. With the highest pick in franchise history since selecting James Worthy No. 1 in 1982, the Lakers drafted power forward Julius Randle of the University of Kentucky on Thursday, June 26.
 
Tamar Braxton, Grammy Award-nominated singer, songwriter, and television producer, will perform the national anthem. Braxton will release a new album later this year and can currently be seen in the hit TV series "Tamar & Vince" and "Braxton Family Values." Her new daytime TV show, "The Real," will premiere on Fox September 15.
 
Dodger Alumni League member Tim Leary will sign autographs in the right-field pavilion plaza and Alumni Leaguer Derrel Thomas will sign autographs in the left-field pavilion plaza from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Both will sign autographs in the Stadium club from 1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
 
Viva Los Dodgers, presented by State Farm, Chevrolet and Time Warner Cable at the historic 76 station, begins at 11:00 a.m. The pre-game family-friendly festival will feature autographs by Dodger Alumni Leaguer Al "The Bull" Ferrara from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Musical entertainment will be provided by El Gavachillo (WIL-DOG of OZOMATLI), La Nota and Ballet Folklorico Guadalajara.
 
Adrian Gonzalez, through the Adrian Gonzalez's Viva Los Dodgers community program, provides all-inclusive tickets and parking for families in greater Los Angeles by partnering with various non-profit organizations. This Sunday, Gonzalez will host families from Valley International Prep (VIP) whose mission is "Innovate. Collaborate. Educate." VIP are leading site-based charter schools of choice, comprised of forward-thinking leaders and educators who value college readiness and an optimal college fit for each student at the center of its daily campus life. Sunday's "Héroe de la Comunidad" honoree at Viva Los Dodgers is David Trejo. Trejo is the founding Head of School and principal at VIP. Trejo recently had the honor of being selected as one of only three educators in the nation to deliver a keynote address in the style of a TED talk during an educational convening at The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
 
All Dodger fans are welcome at Viva Los Dodgers and the event is free with a ticket to Sunday's game.
 
As part of Kids 4 Dodgers Baseball, 250 youngsters will be in attendance from Brent's Club, a non-profit club for young adults in middle school that provides incentives for participants to abstain from the use of drugs and alcohol, Kappa Alpha bi Kappa League, a LA mentoring program, and El Monte Dukes, a Little League team supported by Dodger broadcaster Fernando Valenzuela. Kids 4 Dodgers Baseball provides Los Angeles area inner-city youth with a Dodger game experience courtesy of the Dodgers. Transportation to and from Dodger Stadium in a customized Dodger bus, Reserve level tickets, a voucher for a Dodger Dog and beverage and a Kids 4 Dodgers Baseball T-shirt are included.
 
The Veteran of the Game presented by Bank of America is U.S. Navy Petty Officer Cristina Collesano and her Military Working Dog, Zizi. She enlisted in 2006 to become a Military Working Dog Handler. Both were deployed to Kuwait where they were responsible for keeping several military installations safe. They both retired from active duty service in 2011 and Zizi was adopted by Collesano. After becoming a police officer, she re-enlisted in the Navy in 2014 and now works with a patrol/narcotics detection dog based at Naval Base Ventura County. Her accolades include two Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medals and an Army Commendation Medal.
 
The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) will hold a silent auction on the Club level by the Vin Scully Press Box. The auction ends at 2:45 p.m. with more than 25 items up for bid, including an Adrian Gonzalez autographed baseball, Don Mattingly autographed photo and Matt Kemp autographed game-used #42 LA Dodger jersey from Jackie Robinson Day. The LADF will feature two autographed game-used #42 LA Dodger player or coach jerseys from Jackie Robinson Day at each silent auction for the remainder of the season. All proceeds will benefit LADF and its programs in sports and recreation, education and literacy and health and wellness which help children and families throughout the greater Los Angeles region.
 
The Dodgers will play host to the first annual Strike Out Stroke Awareness Day. Strike Out Stroke is a non-profit organization dedicated to stroke awareness and education whose objective is to significantly reduce the debilitating effects of stroke, through awareness events at Major and Minor League baseball games across the country. There will be several stroke education tables located throughout the stadium to spread awareness about the signs and symptoms of stroke.
 
Sunday, August 24

• Media gates - 9:10 a.m.
• Clubhouse open to media - 9:40 a.m.
• Auto gates - 10:30 a.m.
• Viva Los Dodgers at 76 station - 11:00 a.m.
• Stadium gates - 11:00 a.m.
• Pregame ceremonies - 12:55 p.m.
• Game time - 1:10 p.m.

 
Hyun-Jin Ryu is the cover subject of the August issue of Dodger Insider magazine, which again boasts more than two dozen stories touching upon every aspect of Dodger baseball. Among the features: a sit-down interview with Don Mattingly to discuss the Dodgers' down-and-up first half (accompanied by a photo essay of first-half highlights), the latest on efforts to reduce Tommy John surgery, an exploration of the distinctive deliveries of such pitchers as Clayton Kershaw and J.P. Howell, analysis of the Dodgers' ability to hit with runners in scoring position, a progress report on Dodger prospects and much more.
 
Dodger Insider serves as a companion to the Dodger Insider blog, located at www.dodgers.com/insider and published multiple times daily. Dodger Insider magazine and the 2014 Los Angeles Dodgers Yearbook, featuring a 21-page commemorative section dedicated to Vin Scully in his own words, are on sale throughout Dodger Stadium, including the Top of the Park store and online at www.dodgers.com/magazine. Subscriptions to the magazine can be ordered at any time. A digital version of Dodger Insider magazine, featuring embedded video links, is also available.

The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation 5K Run and Kids Fun Run presented by your SoCal Honda Dealers will be held on September 21 at Dodger Stadium. The 5K registration for the LADF 5K Run and Kids Fun Run is now open online at www.dodgers.com/5K. Fans can register for the 5K Run for $50 and just $25 for the Kids Fun Run. The 5K Run course includes views of Dodger Stadium, downtown Los Angeles, a cool-down run around the Dodger Stadium warning track and appearances by Dodger Alumni League members. The Kids Fun Run will take place on the Dodger Stadium warning track. Awards will be given to top participants in male and female categories. Each LADF 5K Run and Kids Fun Run participant will receive a Dodger tech shirt and medal. All proceeds will benefit LADF and its programs in sports and recreation, education and literacy and health and wellness which help children and families throughout the greater Los Angeles region.

The Dodgers' auto gates are open 2.5 hours before game time and the stadium gates are open two hours before the scheduled first pitch. Fans taking advantage of this early arrival time can enjoy various family-friendly activities as soon as gates open throughout Dodger Stadium, including in the newly enhanced right and left-field pavilion plazas which feature the Budweiser and Bud Light bullpen overlook bars and the new Tommy Lasorda Trattoria and the Think Blue BBQ. In the left and right-field pavilion plazas, there are also plenty of photo opportunities with Dodger memorabilia, including five-foot diameter World Series rings, an eight-foot replica of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award, a life-size statue of the iconic Farmer John Dodger Dog, interactive replicas of the 76 ball and various bobbleheads. Autographs for fans with Dodger Alumni League members and family friendly activities also take place before each game in the pavilion plazas and reserve level plazas.

Tickets are available for all games against the New York Mets and can be purchased by visiting www.dodgers.com/tickets or by calling (323) DODGERS.
 
Fans are urged to arrive early and are encouraged to utilize the many transportation alternatives that serve Union Station and will connect them to the Dodger Stadium Express, which will operate starting 90 minutes prior to first pitch. Fans can find specific route and schedule information by visiting www.metro.net or calling 323.GO.METRO (323.466.3876). Dodger Stadium transportation and parking information can be found by visiting www.dodgers.com/parking.
 
All Dodger games are televised on SportsNet LA, the exclusive new 24/7 TV network of the Los Angeles Dodgers and includes live pre-game programming "Leadoff LA" and "Access SportsNet: Dodgers." Spanish-language telecasts take place for each home game. Time Warner Cable customers can watch live Spanish-language Dodger game telecasts in high definition on channel 382 in Los Angeles, 324 in the Desert Cities and 664 in Barstow. For more information about SportsNet LA's Spanish-language games and standard definition channel numbers, visit the "ESPAÑOL" tab on www.sportsnetla.com. The network will also offer Korean-language Secondary Audio Programming (SAP) for all live Dodger games on its air this season, a first for any MLB team. The Dodgers have partnered with Radio Korea, the team's Korean radio broadcast partner, to provide this service. For more information about SportsNet LA or to demand the network, visit www.ineedmydodgers.com or www.quieromisdodgers.com or call 1-844-I-NEED-MY (1-844-463-3369).