The Los Angeles Dodgers look for their fifth straight victory on Saturday night as they host the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. Ted Lilly gets the start for the Dodgers, his first of the year after beginning the season on the disabled list with neck stiffness.
To make room for Lilly on the active roster, the Dodgers placed relief pitcher Todd Coffey on the disabled list with right knee inflammation. The burly right-hander said he has had trouble the last few days, which has contributed to his 36.00 ERA through three games.
"The velocity is there, 93 to 95. The movement is there. It's just that last little bit of movement at the end and not being able to finish your pitch," Coffey said before Saturday's game.
Both Coffey and manager Don Mattingly said that had this injury happened later in the season Coffey might not have gone on the DL, but given that we are still early in the campaign the team is playing it cautious with the 280-pound reliever.
"It's too early to be messing around and letting this turn into something bigger," Mattingly said.
The move allows the Dodgers to keep reliever Josh Lindblom, who has options and would havve likely been sent to the minors had Coffey not been hurt. Lindblom has pitched six scoreless innings in four appearances so far this season.
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