Nationals at Dodgers, 12:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, MLBN

A 12:10 p.m. PT start on Wednesday meant that right-hander Dan Haren wouldn’t get a full rest between outings, so Dodgers manager Don Mattingly tabbed 24-year-old rookie Carlos Frias for the series finale against the Nationals.

It seemed like the obvious choice.

“We felt like he was a good guy for this 12 o’clock start,” Mattingly said. “He’s young. He doesn’t need sleep.”

Don hasn’t read or heard the story that youngsters need more sleep than us old people.

You might say “what’s this kid doing starting, when he’s done nothing but pitch out of the bullpen for the Dodgers?” Well, he started all but one of his games at AA Chattanooga and AAA Albuquerque this year. He’ll pitch against Jordan Zimmermann, who’s 10-5 with a 2.93 ERA on the season, 2-1 with a 5.61 ERA against the Dodgers in five career starts.

Mattingly apparently thinks Puig needs time to relax and not think so hard about his performance on the field. He hasn’t said whether he’ll play Pederson or Puig tomorrow.