New Blood Arrives As Dodgers Prep For D-Backs

The dawn of a new month brings some changes to Dodger Stadium tonight, as the Dodgers battle the Diamondbacks for the second game of a four-game series at Dodger Stadium.

The first wave of September callups have arrived, in the form of catcher A.J. Ellis, pitcher Scott Elbert, and outfielder Jason Repko.  Jim Thome, wearing number 25, and Jon Garland, wearing number 21, are new to the fold as well, although the corresponding moves to add them to the 40-man roster have not yet been announced.

Vicente Padilla, whose week and a half in the Dodger organization makes him a veteran compared to all the newbies, gets his second start for the Dodgers tonight, and his first wearing the home whites.  Padilla did face the Diamondbacks on June 24, while with the Rangers, and picked up the win, pitching seven innings while allowing only one run.

Yusmeiro Petit gets the start for the Diamondbacks.  The Dodgers have touched him up twice this year, for a total of four home runs and ten runs in just nine innings.  Most recently, the Dodgers pounded Petit 16 days ago in Arizona, as the Dodgers won 9-3.

Matt Kemp has homered in four of his last five games, and has amassed 31 RBI in his last 31 games, hitting .317/.346/.611 with nine home runs during that span.

Hiroki Kuroda will make a rehabilitation start with Inland Empire tonight at 7:05pm in San Bernardino against the San Jose Giants.  You can listen online here, or follow the box score here.

The Dodgers passed the 3 million mark in attendance in last night's game, the 14th straight year the club has done so.

Programming Note:  Sunday's Dodger game against the Padres will now be played at 5:10pm, and be televised on ESPN2.

**********

Check out Xeifrank's simulation of today's game here.

Don't forget to RSVP for True Blue LA Day at Dodger Stadium, on the next-to-last day of the regular season, October 3 against the Rockies.

Get your guesses in for our new September contest, "One, two, Three Strikes, You're Out," here.

Game Time:  7:10pm

TV: KCAL

Baseball Reference Preview