Catcher Tim Federowicz will make his first major league start Thursday night at Dodger Stadium, as the Los Angeles Dodgers open a four-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Dana Eveland starts for the Dodgers, looking for his third win in as many starts. Ross Ohlendorf starts on the mound for Pittsburgh.
Federowicz was acquired along with pitchers Stephen Fife and Juan Rodriguez from the Boston Red Sox on July 31 for outfielder Trayvon Robinson, in an exchange of minor leaguers. Robinson was then flipped to the Seattle Mariners, and he has hit .242/.290/.414 with 11 doubles and two home runs in 32 games.
Described as a defense-first catcher, Federowicz hit .277/.338/.407 in Double A Portland, then was promoted to Triple A Albuquerque after joining the Dodgers. Federowicz hit .325/.431/.627 with six home runs in 25 games in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, though he hit just .231/.333/.385 on the road while in Triple A.
Federowicz, who turned 24 on August 5, made his major league debut on Sunday in San Francisco, catching one inning and struck out in his only plate appearance. Here are Thursday's starting lineups:
Pirates (67-82)
Presley LF
d’Arnaud SS
McCutchen CF
Lee 1B
Doumit C
Walker 2B
Ludwick RF
Wood 3B
Ohlendorf P
Dodgers (73-75)
Gordon SS
Sellers 2B
Kemp CF
Rivera RF
Loney 1B
Sands LF
Mitchell 3B
Federowicz C
Eveland P
Thursday night's 7:10 p.m. PDT game will be televised by Prime Ticket. For a look at Dana Eveland's first start at Dodger Stadium, be sure to read True Blue LA.