Pittsburgh @ Los Angeles preview
Dodger Stadium
Last Meeting ( Apr 30, 2010 ) Pittsburgh 2, LA Dodgers 6
With Vicente Padilla on the disabled list and Charlie Haeger’s unpredictable knuckleball being easier to hit and harder for him to control in each passing start, the Los Angeles Dodgers are turning to a relative novice for Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Rookie right-hander Carlos Monasterios will make his first major-league start when the Dodgers host the Pirates in the second of a three-game series.
Monasterios has a 1.69 ERA in seven relief appearances, the longest being 2 2/3 scoreless innings against the Washington Nationals on April 24. Monasterios picked up his first major-league win during the 4-3 victory.
Monasterios was plucked out of the Philadelphia Phillies’ organization in December’s Rule V draft and traded to the Dodgers. Los Angeles had to place him on the active roster or offer him back to the Phillies.
He was effective enough in spring training to make the decision relatively easy, even though he spent most of the 2009 season in Class A ball.
Monasterios was used in situations involving little pressure at the start of the season but earned added trust from manager Joe Torre with his performance in the 13-inning win over the Nationals. Monasterios allowed two hits and walked none while striking out two in the victory.
Now he’ll be fully thrust into the fire with his first major-league start for a Dodgers’ squad that ended a five-game losing streak on Friday night.
Los Angeles scored just eight runs during its five-game skid, but scored six runs in Friday’s victory. James Loney hit a three-run homer and Andre Ethier hit a two-run shot.
The Dodgers played without shortstop Rafael Furcal (hamstring) for the fourth consecutive game.
Pittsburgh had won three consecutive games before Friday’s loss. The Pirates will send left-hander Zach Duke to the hill on Saturday.
Duke pitched well in his first three starts of the year before being blasted in each of his last two, including Pittsburgh’s 17-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on April 26. Duke has allowed 14 runs and 16 hits in his last nine innings.
Overall, Duke has a 6.11 ERA and has allowed 33 hits and 14 walks in 28 innings.
Pittsburgh has endured shaky starting pitching all season but help could be on the way. Ross Ohlendorf (back) pitched in an extended spring training game on Friday and will make a rehab start sometime next week. He’ll likely be activated if he doesn’t suffer a setback.
Meanwhile, Pirates catcher Ryan Doumit stretched his hitting streak to 10 games with a 3-for-4 game on Friday. Doumit is batting .471 (16-for-34) during the streak.