Vicente Padilla, who missed nearly three weeks at the end of August with a bulging disc in his neck, has had the problem flare up again, per the Dodgers:
Carlos Monasterios will start for #Dodgers tomorrow, Padilla was scratched due to a bulging disc in his neck
Padilla returned from the disabled list to start Monday in San Diego, but lasted just four innings in a loss to the Padres. On the season, Padilla is 6-5 with a 4.07 ERA in 16 starts. He signed a one-year contract last winter to remain with the Dodgers, and will be a free agent at the end of the season.
Monasterios, who joins D.J. Houlton in 2005 as the only Dodger Rule 5 picks to last the entire season with the club, has bounced back and forth from the starting rotation to long relief all season. Sunday will be his 12th start of the season. He is 3-5 with a 4.02 ERA on the season, but struggled recently, allowing nine runs in 10 2/3 innings over three starts. Monasterios hasn’t pitched since August 31, when he lost to the Phillies.