Dodgers Team Report 9/7/2011

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Sed ut perspiciatis unde.

INSIDE PITCH

The return of Stephen Strasburg was the biggest story in baseball on Tuesday, and the Dodgers were excited to be part of it.

“I think you want to see the best guys out there,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. “Guys like this are fun to play against.”

But it also provides a road map for their own pitching phenom with a fastball that hits triple digits, Rubby De La Rosa, as he returns from the same Tommy John surgery.

Strasburg made a triumphant return to the majors, tossing five scoreless innings with no walks, two hits and four strikeouts in an efficient 56 pitches for the Nationals.

The score was 3-0 when Strasburg departed, 3-3 during a rain delay that lasted 29 minutes in the seventh inning, Rod Barajas’ two-run double in the eighth gave the Dodgers a 5-3 lead, and Andre Ethier’s two-run double in the ninth made it a 7-3 Dodgers win at Nationals Park.

Strasburg returned one year and three days after undergoing the ligament-replacement elbow surgery. Edinson Volquez returned one year and two weeks after his surgery. Tim Hudson was back in one year and three weeks. Jordan Zimmerman needed one year and one week to return to the majors.

De La Rosa underwent the surgery on Aug. 9, so it’s reasonable the Dodgers can expect him for the final month of the 2012 season, perhaps the last six weeks. Whether De La Rosa returns as a starter or reliever is a decision that doesn’t need to be made until July.

The Dodgers will likely begin the season with a starting rotation of Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Ted Lilly and Nathan Eovaldi. They hope Hiroki Kuroda, a free agent, returns to the United States for a fifth season and joins the other four.

If not, they need to sign another veteran starting pitcher. They might even need to sign two starters, since Eovaldi is so young and inexperienced.

Part of the Dodgers’ decision making will involve whether to expect De La Rosa back sometime in August, hope he can contribute in August, or assume they’ll get nothing from him and be pleasantly surprised with whatever he provides.

Strasburg will make four starts the final month. The Nationals are limiting him to 60 pitches per start. In part, this is because the Nationals are not in playoff contention, so there’s no reason to overuse their $15.1 million investment who was the first overall pick in the 2009 draft.

That’s part of the equation for the Dodgers to consider next season, when they’re deciding on bringing De La Rosa back as a starter or reliever. The decision probably will be based more on the needs of the team.

De La Rosa has no shortage of teammates who can guide him through the process with their own story.

Carlos Monasterios had it a few weeks before him, and they’re rehabbing together in Arizona. Javy Guerra had it in the minors. Nathan Eovaldi had it in high school (and returned nine months later). Hong-Chih Kuo had it twice, plus two cleanup elbow surgeries.

NOTES, QUOTES

• LHP Ted Lilly struck out nine batters in five innings but walked three, and that led to a whopping 105 pitches and an early exit. Three of those hits came in a three-run second inning, and a throwing error by Lilly on a sacrifice bunt made one of those runs unearned.

• CF Matt Kemp picked up another RBI, giving him a tie for the league lead at 107, on a sharply hit single to shortstop Ian Desmond.

• INF/OF Jerry Sands, C Tim Federowicz and RHP John Ely were called up from Triple-A Albuquerque after their season ended. They joined the Dodgers on Tuesday in D.C.

• OF Tony Gwynn Jr. was told that his playing time will be diminished the rest of the season, and so will RF Andre Ethier’s to a lesser extent. Manager Don Mattingly wants to give Jerry Sands an extended look the final month, and there could be additional promotions from the outfield ranks when Double-A Chattanooga’s playoff run ends.

• 3B Casey Blake underwent successful neck surgery on Tuesday by Dr. James Watkins, Jr. He’ll spend overnight in the hospital and remain in a neck brace for a few weeks. Blake has said previously he doesn’t plan on retiring, and doctors believe he’ll be ready by spring training.

By The Numbers: 9—Consecutive seasons that lefty Ted Lilly has won 10 or more games in the majors. Lilly was denied his 10th victory in Tuesday’s game. He’ll likely have four more chances to get his 10th win. Mark Buehrle and CC Sabathia are the only other left-handers to accomplish the feat in the same time.

Quote To Note: “I want to see Jerry play more. Jerry’s going to play quite a bit. I think we have to give him a (chance), see if he makes adjustments. That will help us make decisions at the end of the year.”—Manager Don Mattingly, on the playing time of Tuesday call-up Jerry Sands from Triple-A Albuquerque.

ROSTER REPORT

Medical Watch:

• INF Juan Uribe (abdominal strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to July 24 with what originally was called a left hip strain. Uribe was taking batting practice every day in mid-August, but he hadn’t improved enough to be able to run the bases. He got a cortisone shot to numb his left hip. He might need season-ending surgery to repair a sports hernia.

• RHP Jonathan Broxton (bone bruise on right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 4. He threw a bullpen session June 7. He made rehab appearances on June 21 and 23 for Class AAA Albuquerque, but he felt tightness in his elbow when playing catch June 25, and he was shut down from throwing. He was cleared to begin a throwing program in early August, and he might be able to return in September.

• RHP Rubby De La Rosa (sprained ulnar collateral ligament in right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list Aug. 1. He underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery Aug. 9.

• RHP Vicente Padilla (right radial nerve irritation, sore neck) went on the 15-day disabled list May 14 due to the arm injury. He began a rehab assignment with Class A Rancho Cucamonga on May 29, but he was shut down in early June due to a neck ailment. He underwent neck surgery June 16, and he likely will miss the rest of the season.

• RHP Jon Garland (right shoulder inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 2. He played catch June 21 but had to shut it down quickly. He underwent season-ending surgery during the All-Star break and began his rehab.

Rotation:

LHP Clayton Kershaw

RHP Chad Billingsley

LHP Ted Lilly

RHP Hiroki Kuroda

LHP Dana Eveland

Bullpen:

RHP Javy Guerra (closer)

RHP Kenley Jansen

RHP Matt Guerrier

RHP Nathan Eovaldi

LHP Scott Elbert