Mattingly giving lefty hitters a virtual two-day break

PHOENIX -- Dodgers manager Don Mattingly sat most of his left-handed hitters against D-backs lefty Robbie Ray on Wednesday, but he said the schedule was more of a reason than the arm with which Ray throws.

Because of Thursday's day off, regulars Joc Pederson, Adrian Gonzalez, Yasmani Grandal and Andre Ethier will get what a nearly 72-hour break from their last start Tuesday night to their next one Friday night.

So Mattingly started Kike Hernandez, Scott Van Slyke, A.J. Ellis and Alex Guerrero at center field, first base, catcher and left field for the finale of a 10-game trip.

"It would be nice to have a winning trip," Mattingly said after his club won five of the first nine games through Wrigley Field, Marlins Park and Chase Field. "We haven't had one of those this year. We left knowing it would be a fairly tough trip, and that's a little scary. Now we kind of survived it with the off-day tomorrow."