LOS ANGELES -- No sooner had Dodgers manager Grady Little announced that he would platoon Juan Pierre and Rafael Furcal in the leadoff spot of the batting order came word that Furcal wouldn't be batting anywhere Saturday.

An hour before the game, Furcal was scratched with right knee soreness. It's the same knee that required arthroscopic surgery Jan. 11, 2006, a month after he signed a three-year, $39 million contract.

Furcal has a 12-game hitting streak, is on a 25-for-50 tear and has started all but one game since returning Apr. 13 from an ankle sprain. He was replaced at shortstop Saturday by Ramon Martinez, with Tony Abreu moving up to second in the order.

Prior to the announcement, Little said he will platoon Pierre and Furcal in the leadoff spot of the batting order depending on whether the opposing pitcher is right-handed or left-handed.

"I think what we'll try to do for awhile, against left-handed starters Furcal will bat leadoff and against right-handed starters we'll go with Pierre," he said. "It's my choice and that's about it. We're more comfortable with Rafael against left-handers."

The switch-hitting Furcal is batting .333 against left-handers and .295 against right-handers. The left-handed Pierre is batting .231 against lefties and .289 against righties. Furcal's on-base percentage is .371 against lefties and .368 against righties. Pierre's on-base percentage is .255 against left-handers and .323 against right-handers.

Little also gave second baseman Jeff Kent Saturday off, even though Kent had a two-run homer and two-run double Friday night, one day after a day off. With eight home runs, Kent is one month ahead of last year's pace, when he finished with only 14.

"He has no injuries," said Little, "and we're doing our best to prevent them from coming about."

No worries for Broxton: Reliever Jonathan Broxton allowed six consecutive hits Friday night while suffering his second blown save of the year, but he didn't pore over game video looking for a mechanical flaw.

"I just erase it," he said. "They just hit a lot of sliders last night. For some reason, they were sitting on my slider. Today's a new day. It's the great thing about baseball."

Little said all of his relievers were available Saturday except Yhency Brazoban, who was unable to retire any of the three batters he faced Friday night. Brazoban, who had Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery 13 months ago, was clocked in the low-90s Friday night, his third appearance in four days.

Schmidt recovering: Jason Schmidt on Saturday still had lingering effects from the flu that postponed Friday's scheduled simulated game. Schmidt played some catch before the game. He was to have a light bullpen session either later Saturday or Sunday, and the simulated game was pushed back until next week in Washington.

So is Anderson: Marlon Anderson was supposed to be sidelined two months after elbow surgery, but after only two weeks he's already throwing pretty hard and taking batting practice in the cage.

"It feels better than it has in a couple years," said Anderson, confirming that similar surgery in October didn't exactly solve the problem of bone chips. "Sometimes you don't know what's causing the pain and it's a little of trial and error. But it feels great now."

Miller's struggles continue: Promising left-hander Greg Miller's control problems hit critical mass Friday night when all three batters he faced walked and scored. He threw 13 pitches, only one for a strike.

Miller, who had a six-inning no-hitter in April, has walked 23 of the 31 batters he's faced in May and 39 of 85 batters he's faced this year in 26 2/3 innings.

"He's trying to make every pitch a perfect pitch," said pitching coach Rick Honeycutt. "He's trying to strike out everybody."

Coming up: In Sunday's homestand finale against the Cubs, Randy Wolf (6-3, 3.75) opposes Rich Hill (4-4, 3.37) at 1:10 p.m. PT.