By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

PHOENIX — Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier is expecting big things down the stretch from Dustin Pedroia, one of his best friends and a teammate at Arizona State.

Pedroia is hitting a solid .284 with 11 homers and 44 RBIs, but that is well below his usual production.

“Relax and Laser Show. He’s a great player,” Ethier said. “I think he’s a good year even up to this point. He’s coming back from a tough injury. I saw first-hand all winter, the steps and stuff he had to do just to get back to the point he’s at right now.

“I kept telling him to slow down and take a month or two later than he actually did. He, of course, wanted to come back right away and be there from Day 1. He’s done more than enough to help that team. Once he gets that rhythm and feeling like himself again. He’s definitely going to take off.”

Ethier is not being too boastful of making the All-Stat team while Pedroia stays home.

“He has a couple under his belt. He has a lot more awards in his trophy case than I do,” Ethier said. “All he’s concerned about is winning.”

What about the idea of Ethier playing with Pedroia again?

“Maybe one day. Maybe when we’re 38 years old we’ll end up playing on the Diamondbacks together for the last year or two,” he said. “Maybe one day. It would be fun. But he has his thing in Boston and we’re trying to do what we’re doing in L.A. If the paths meet somehow, they’ll line up perfect for us.”

Red Sox fans would prefer that comes sooner than later, like tomorrow. Ethier is hitting .311 /.383/.463 for the Dodgers.