The Dodgers and Angels shift their Freeway Series to Anaheim, with Mike Bolsinger getting the start on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium.
Bolsinger actually won the fifth starter job in spring training but was hurt on the very day of his anointment, sidelined nearly seven weeks with a strained oblique. He made two rehab starts with Triple-A Oklahoma City, allowing two runs in eight innings while striking out seven.
He lasted four innings in both starts, throwing 47 pitches in the first game, then 63 in his last outing on Thursday at Round Rock. Bolsinger is expected to throw five innings with a limit of about 80 pitches on Wednesday, manager Dave Roberts told reporters on Tuesday.
Inserting Bolsinger into the rotation for a start gives the rest of the staff some breathing room, with seven games remaining after Wednesday in their stretch of 20 games in 20 days. Dodgers starters this season on four days rest have a 3.68 ERA in 23 starts, and with five days rest have a 3.16 ERA in 14 starts.
It was a good decision to give Bolsinger the spot start in an American League park, as he was 1-for-38 (but with a double!) last year and is 3-for-57 (.053) in his career at the plate.
The Dodgers will need to make a corresponding move later this afternoon to add Bolsinger to the active roster.
The Dodgers have won four of their last five games in Anaheim, though still own just a 20-33 (.377) record there since interleague play began in 1997. The Dodgers are 3-2 in American League parks this season.
Game info
Time: 7:05 p.m. PT
TV: SportsNet LA, Fox Sports West