16 Andre Ethier, RF

Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier is back in the starting lineup Friday night against the Cardinals.

Ethier, who has not played since Tuesday, is hitting .231 (3 for 13) with a home run and two RBI in his last five games played (three starts).

Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier was not in the lineup Wednesday against the Brewers after manager Don Mattingly hinted that he was only going to field a team "that's going to fight and compete the whole day." After Wednesday's game, Ethier explained to the Los Angeles Times that he was not happy with that characterization of his play.

"I take offense to that," Ethier said.

Specifically, Ethier was unhappy that Mattingly did not say anything to him personally about the perceived issue with his work ethic.

"But other than that, it's one where I feel like every day I show up and I'm trying to figure out ways to compete," Ethier said. "I work hard. Whether I'm going good or going bad, I work just as hard, both sides. Obviously, when things are going bad, I'm trying even harder to figure out how to make things go right."

Ethier is batting .264 with a .758 on-base percentage, both career lows. 

From Week 1 on, Andre Ethier's popularity in CBSSports.com leagues has been in steady decline, but a recent hot streak might get owners reconsidering their stance. Over his last 10 games, Ethier has gone 11 for 29 (.379), raising his season batting average from .235 to .264.

There has been a little power in Ethier's recent run, which has included four extra-base hits, but that alone shouldn't be enough to raise expectations for a significant rebound. Ethier has hit 30 home runs just once in his career, and that is now four season ago. While he is hitting flyballs at his highest rate since then, he's not hitting many of them particularly deep.

Ethier is just going through a stretch where he is getting a few additional base hits on balls in play, and eventually his luck will taper off. Then owners will be left with an outfielder who provides a decent batting average and on-base percentage but little else of use outside of deeper leagues. If the Dodgers get desperate to recall Yasiel Puig in an attempt to revive their moribund offense, Ethier would be the most likely outfielder to lose playing time, so there's that to consider as well.

Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier is out of the lineup Wednesday against Milwaukee.

Ethier will get the rest with a day game after a night game. Scott Van Slyke gets the start against Brewers righty Wily Peralta.

Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier ended his home run drought at 20 games Monday against the Brewers with a solo home run off Yovani Gallardo in the fourth inning. Ethier finished 2 for 4 with one triple.

Ethier is batting .308 (16 for 52) in his last 16 games, raising his season average from .237 to .262. He has one triple, two doubles, five runs, six walks and six RBI in that span.