It is Joe Torre's final game as manager today, as well as the final game in the playing career of Brad Ausmus. Torre joked that Ausmus "would play today until he passed out." Ausmus will end his career with 1,938 games caught, the seventh most in baseball history.
That would put Ausmus in today's game longer than Rafael Furcal. Furcal is in today's starting lineup, but will only get one plate appearance. Furcal is hitting .301, and an 0-for-1 would leave him at .3003. Torre has said he wants Furcal to have a .300 season, but also said today he would pull him after one plate appearance even if Furcal got a hit. Torre said he wanted Furcal in the starting lineup for Torre's final game as manager.
Ted Lilly gets the start for the Dodgers, seeking his 10th win of the season.
Hong-Chih Kuo will pitch an inning today, and if he doesn't allow a run in that inning, Kuo will end his season with a 1.200 ERA, the lowest ERA in the 127-year history of the Dodgers (minimum 40 innings).
Rodrigo Lopez is starting for the Diamondbacks. In four starts against the Dodgers this season, Lopez has allowed 22 runs (12 earned) in 23 2/3 innings, and is 0-2 with six home runs allowed.
Here are the lineups:
Diamondbacks
Abreu 3B
Ojeda SS
Ryal 1B
Allen LF
Roberts 2B
Parra RF
Schmidt C
Gillespie CF
Lopez P
Dodgers
Furcal SS
Carroll 2B
Ethier RF
Kemp CF
Loney 1B
Blake 3B
Ausmus C
Johnson LF
Lilly P