NewsPadilla to make Dodgers debut in finale
Los Angeles (75-52) at Colorado (72-55), 12:10 p.m. PT
By Ken Gurnick / MLB.com
08/27/09 1:30 AM ET
DENVER -- It's been pretty comical this week every time Dodgers manager Joe Torre is asked who will start Thursday's series finale against the Rockies."I can't talk about it. I don't want to get in trouble," Torre said.
Technically, because Vicente Padilla signed a Minor League deal last week and isn't on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers can't say he will start the game, which MLB Network will simulcast, with Vin Scully calling the action on FSN's Prime Ticket.
But Padilla will start. And the Dodgers will be required to make some roster moves to clear room, both on the 25-man roster and the 40-man list.
Padilla will make his Dodgers debut against the hottest starting pitcher on the hottest team. Jorge De La Rosa has reeled off a dozen wins since June 1, more than any other pitcher in the Major Leagues. But De La Rosa is 0-4 with a 7.89 ERA lifetime against the Dodgers.
Padilla will be the 11th starting pitcher for the Dodgers this year. He essentially was signed to take the spot of Opening Day starter Hiroki Kuroda, who is disabled after taking a line drive off the head in Arizona on Aug. 15.
It will be Padilla's first Major League game since Aug. 5, his final start before the Rangers cut him loose amid widespread unhappiness in the clubhouse and front office regarding his attitude, as well as a well-known reputation for headhunting.
Padilla made one Minor League start for Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday, allowing a two-run homer in five innings while throwing 84 pitches. This season, he was 8-6 with a 4.92 ERA in 18 starts and missed some time in July when he became the only Major Leaguer diagnosed with swine flu.
The Dodgers have been pretty successful this year when they scramble to find a starting pitcher.
In games started by pitchers other than Chad Billingsley, Clayton Kershaw, Randy Wolf or Kuroda, the Dodgers are 20-12. That's a .625 winning percentage, a better result than when the top four start. The extra starters have been Charlie Haeger, Eric Stults, Jeff Weaver, James McDonald, Eric Milton and Jason Schmidt.
Pitching matchupLAD: RHP Vicente Padilla (8-6, 4.92 ERA)
He's not even on the 40-man roster yet, but Padilla is expected to be promoted to make his Dodgers debut in the series finale in Denver, replacing the injured Kuroda. Padilla has allowed six runs in nine innings at Coors Field over his career. COL: LHP Jorge De La Rosa (12-8, 4.76 ERA)
In his last start, De La Rosa lacked his put-away slider. He gave up a pair of two-run homers in six innings. He gave up six runs. But he earned a win in a 14-11 game with the Giants on Saturday night. That was a huge step for De La Rosa, who has pitched well more often than not since the latter part of last season but still must overcome a reputation for falling apart when things go wrong early. That certainly wasn't the case Saturday. Tidbits
James Loney entered Wednesday night's game 1-for-12, then went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer. He has two extra-base hits in his past 18 games. ... George Sherrill, who was unavailable Tuesday night because of stiffness in his oblique area, relieved Wolf in the eighth inning on Wednesday and retired the two batters he faced. Torre said he reported no further physical problems after the game. ... Jonathan Broxton pitched a scoreless ninth inning on Wednesday, allowing an infield single. Tickets
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• KABC 790, KHJ 930 (Español) Up next
• Friday: Dodgers (Chad Billingsley, 12-7, 3.73) at Reds (Homer Bailey, 3-4, 6.82), 4:10 p.m. PT
• Saturday: Dodgers (Charlie Haeger, 1-1, 1.93) at Reds (TBD), 1:10 p.m. PT
• Sunday: Dodgers (Clayton Kershaw, 8-7, 2.96) at Reds (Bronson Arroyo, 11-12, 4.43), 10:10 a.m. PT
Ken Gurnick is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
