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DODGERS / THE WEEK AHEAD

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Tuesday through Thursday: White Sox at Chicago

Friday through June 28: Mariners at Dodger Stadium

Casey Blake has stabilized third base for the Dodgers for the first time since Adrian Beltre left as a free agent after a 2004 season in which he batted .334 with 48 home runs, one shy of Shawn Green’s franchise record. The Dodgers’ opening-day third basemen since then: Jose Valentin in 2005, Bill Mueller in 2006, Wilson Betemit in 2007, Blake DeWitt in 2008 and Blake this year. Beltre could be trade bait in July, as he is in the final season of his five-year, $64-million contract with the Mariners. He is batting .259 through Friday, with five home runs; Blake is batting .299, with 10 home runs.

-- Bill Shaikin

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