The Dodgers will look to build on the momentum provided by Chad Billingsley and Matt Kemp as they open a four-game series with the Atlanta tonight at Dodger Stadium. Ted Lilly is in search of his first win of the season tonight, facing Tim Hudson of the Braves. Both teams are 7-9 so far this season.
Lilly had a lead in the sixth inning last Wednesday in San Francisco, but two home runs turned the tide against the Dodgers in a 4-3 loss. Lilly has allowed 10 runs and 25 baserunners in 15 innings in the early going this season. Dan Uggla is 3-for-8 with two home runs off Lilly, and Nate McLouth is 6-for-12 with a triple. Lilly has had success against both Braves catchers, as Brian McCann is 2-for-9 while David Ross is 0-for-9 with five strikeouts.
Hudson is 6-2 with a 3.49 ERA in 12 starts in his career against the Dodgers. Rod Barajas (6-for-13, with three doubles and a home run) and Matt Kemp (5-for-12 with a home run) have had success against Hudson. Casey Blake, who sat on Sunday against Chris Carpenter, is at the other end of the spectrum, 0-for-10 with four strikeouts. Jamey Carroll, who is not in the lineup tonight, is 1-for-11 off Hudson, while Andre Ethier is 3-for-17, but with two doubles and a triple.
Jerry Sands is 0-for-0 in his career against Hudson.
Navarro On Rehab Assignment In Tennessee
Dioner Navarro, who began the season on the disabled list with a torn right oblique, will begin a rehab assignment with Double A Chattanooga on Tuesday. Navarro felt a pain in his side during batting practice on March 24, and was scratched from the lineup that day, and underwent an MRI. The Dodgers travel to Florida to face the Marlins beginning next Monday, and it is possible Navarro could be ready to rejoin the team during that three-game series.
Technically, a strain of the oblique is a tear, with the degree of the tear being the most important determinant in the severity of the injury. It's worth noting that the Dodgers listed Navarro's injury as a tear while listing Jon Garland's injury as a strain. Garland strained his left oblique on March 9, and pitched for the Dodgers on April 15, 37 days later. If Navarro makes it back by next Monday, that would be 32 days between his injury and activation.
Lineups
| Braves | Dodgers | |||
| LF | Prado | 2B | Miles | |
| RF | Heyward | 3B | Blake | |
| 3B | Jones | RF | Ethier | |
| C | McCann | CF | Kemp | |
| 2B | Uggla | SS | Uribe |
|
| 1B | Freeman | 1B | Loney | |
| SS | Gonzalez | LF | Sands |
|
| CF | McLouth | C |
Barajas | |
| P |
Hudson |
P | Lilly |
|
*****
Game Time: 7:10 p.m.
TV: Prime Ticket