Youth will be served for the Dodgers on Tuesday, as they battle the Phillies in the second game of a three-game set at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Rubby De La Rosa, the Dodgers' 2010 minor league player of the year, will make his first major league start, while Dee Gordon figures to make his first-ever start at shortstop, one day after Gordon was promoted from Triple A. Roy Oswalt gets the start for the Phillies.
De La Rosa, primarily a starter in the minors, was promoted from Double A on May 23, and has pitched in three games out of the bullpen with the Dodgers. In five innings, De La Rosa has allowed one run and four baserunners, while striking out five. He was 2-2 with a 2.92 ERA in eight starts with Double A Chattanooga, with 19 walks and 52 strikeouts in 40 innings. His pitch count might be limited on Tuesday, as his final start in Double A was a scheduled short stint, a two-inning outing that the Dodgers have done in recent seasons with their top pitching prospects. De La Rosa hasn't pitched a full start since May 15.
Gordon made his MLB debut Monday night, scoring as a pinch runner in the ninth inning. The 23-year old hit .315/.361/.370 with 34 runs scored in 50 games in Triple A in the offensive heaven of the Pacific Coast League. Gordon stole 22 bases in 25 attempts with Albuqerque. The Dodgers are 3-13 in Philadelphia since the beginning of 2008, including the playoffs.
Tonight's 4:05 p.m. PDT game will be televised by KCAL and MLB Network. For more news and information on the Dodgers, or on tonight's game, be sure to read the SB Nation blog True Blue LA.