The Los Angeles Dodgers will try for a sweep of the San Diego Padres on Sunday afternoon at Petco Park, something the Dodgers have done just once since the stadium opened in 2004. The Dodgers swept San Diego last season, from May 14-16. Since Petco Park opened, the Dodgers are 30-35 in San Diego.
John Ely will be recalled from Triple A Albuquerque to start today's game for the Dodgers. This is the first time the Dodgers have needed a fifth starter so far this season, and Jon Garland is still recovering from a left oblique strain. Garland lobbied to pitch today, but the club decided to send him on a rehab start instead, for Class A Rancho Cucamonga today in San Bernardino as they battle the Inland Empire 66ers.
Ely got off to a wonderful start last season, and after seven starts he was 3-2 with a 2.54 ERA. However, Ely struggled mightily in the second half, with a 1-8 record and 8.00 ERA over his final 11 starts of the season. Aaron Harang will start for the Padres, making his second start of the season. Harang is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA, allowing one run in six innings in his first start early this week against San Francisco.
Today's 1:05 p.m. PDT game will be televised by KCAL.
For more news and information on the Dodgers or this afternoon's game, be sure to read the SB Nation blog True Blue LA.