The Dodgers look for their first sweep of the season Sunday afternoon against the Padres, and are also in search of their fourth straight win and shutout. Ted Lilly gets the start for the Dodgers, looking for his first daytime win of the season. The Dodgers are 0-6 in his daytime outings this season.
The Dodgers set their post All-Star break starting rotation before today's game. They will open with Arizona beginning Friday in Phoenix, and will send Clayton Kershaw, Hiroki Kuroda, and Ted Lilly to the mound to start. Then the Dodgers travel to San Francisco, with Chad Billingsley and Rubby De La Rosa opening the series. Lilly has been the Dodgers' worst starting pitcher this season, but aside from the left-right-left-right configuration of the first four spots in the rotation, manager Don Mattingly cited Billingsley's numbers against the Giants (3.01 career ERA against SF) as reasons for the order. In addition, the Dodgers have four consecutive Thursdays off so there is room to adjust the rotation based on matchups as needed.
Catcher Rod Barajas will serve as designated hitter for Class A Rancho Cucamonga in the fourth and final game of his rehabilitation assignment. Mattingly said Barajas has passed every test from trainer Stan Conte and is nearly ready to return. Barajas will take part in the club's full workout Thursday in Arizona, where he will be reevaluated, but the plan appears to be for Barajas to be activated from the disabled list before Friday's game in Arizona.
For the Padres, shortstop Jason Bartlett was scratched from today's starting lineup with a sore right thumb. Alberto Gonzalez takes his place, at shortstop and batting second.
Today's 1:10 p.m. game will be televised by Prime Ticket. For more news and information on the Dodgers, or on today's game, be sure to read the SB Nation blog True Blue LA.