Mattingly gives Kemp everyday nod in center

LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers manager Don Mattingly, having said last week that Yasiel Puig had taken hold of the right-field job, said on Thursday that Matt Kemp had done the same in center.

That, Mattingly said, leaves Carl Crawford and Andre Ethier fighting for playing time in left field, with Scott Van Slyke a consideration there against left-handed starting pitching.

"It a situation. That's what it is," he said. "Somebody's not in there, they're not happy. But it's not a daily conversation.

"Yasiel has established himself. 'Dre and Carl are fighting for playing time. Yasiel, he's turned into an RBI guy. He's more patient and getting better pitches to hit. In the long run, he's a 3-4-5 guy. He's showing he's that [Mike] Trout guy. He's shown he's moving in that direction."

Crawford (2-for-9 lifetime against Ryan Vogelsong) got the nod in left field Thursday night over Ethier (5-for-19). Crawford is hitting .255 this year after going 11-for-30 on the trip. Ethier is at .248 and was 10-for-30 on the trip.

Kemp has raised his average to .250 after going 10-for-32 on the trip.