*  *  *  Updated: July 19, 2014  *  *  *

There is no kind way to put it, Dan Haren is the Dodgers’ weakest link – the fans know it, the Dodgers know it and even Dan Haren knows it.

“The results were terrible,” said Haren after losing to the San Diego Padres in his last start on July 11. “I’m just not getting it done for us right now. I felt fine. But that doesn’t mean much. The last few times out I have not been very good.”

You’ve got to give the likable 33-year-old Monterey Park native credit for his painful honesty, but in his own words – “That doesn’t mean much.”

Haren allowed four runs on six hits with two walks, a home run and five strikeouts in his July 11 start against the Padres. His four innings of work was his shortest outing of the season.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

With the Dodgers hanging onto a slim one-game lead over the Giants in the National League West as they kick off their (figurative) second half of the 2014 season tonight at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, they will send the 8-6 Haren and his bloated 4.23 ERA to the mound to face the Cardinals 10-6 Lance Lynn and his very good 3.14 ERA. But with the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline looming large and with Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti already on record as saying that the Dodgers are looking to add another starting pitcher to their roster, one more poor outing could spell disaster for Haren, who leads the team in home runs allowed with 19.

Even though Haren is still on the hook for almost half of the $10 million still owed to him for the remainder of his one-year contract with the Dodgers, it’s probably safe to say that Guggenheim Baseball Management Group would be willing to eat that amount if they can pick up another starting pitcher for the stretch run. And though it is highly unlikely that the Dodgers will actively pursue Rays ace David Price or Phillies ace Cole Hamels who would absolutely decimate the Dodgers farm system to get, they could very well be willing to go after an established number four or number five starter like Red Sox right-hander Jake Peavy or even the Mets seemingly ageless Bartolo Colon.

But before any of this would happen the Dodgers would more than likely give left-hander Paul Maholm another spot start out of the bullpen. Maholm, as you may recall, was absolutely brilliant last Saturday when he allowed no runs and only two hits with no walks and four strikeouts in his six innings of work against those same Padres. Although Maholm is sporting an ugly 1-4 record and 4.69 ERA on the season, he certainly pitched well enough to earn another start (and will probably get it) until Josh Beckett returns from the disabled list – which could occur as early as next week.

But regardless of what the Dodgers may or may not do before the trade deadline, with so very much at stake heading into their nine-game road trip which begins tonight in St. Louis and travels through Pittsburgh and concludes at AT&T Park in San Francisco, one has to assume that Dan Haren’s future with the Dodgers could very well hinge on how he does tonight in The Gateway to the West.

*  *  *  Updated: July 19, 2014  *  *  *

Haren allowed three runs on eight hits (including another home run) with two walks and four strikeouts in his 4.2 innings of work in the Dodgers 3-2 loss to the Cardinals on Friday night. His record is now 8-7 and his ERA 4.30. The home run was the 20th of the season allowed by Haren – the most in major league baseball.