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As expected, the Dodgers called up Stephen Fife to make his major league debut on Tuesday night, starting against the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium. However, his stay with the big club will likely be a short one as Chad Billingsley is expected to miss just one start.
Billingsley was placed on the disabled list Tuesday, but the move was retroactive to July 8. He will throw a bullpen session Friday, and is expected to start in St. Louis on Monday, the first day he is eligible to be activated.
Manager Don Mattingly said that starting Billingsley on Monday, coupled with Thursday's off day this week, will allow the other four members of the starting rotation to pitch on five days rest in their next start. Clayton Kershaw, who will start Wednesday afternoon's finale against the Phillies, will start on Tuesday in St. Louis.
Javy Guerra was eligible to be activated on Tuesday but he is still in Mexico with his father, who suffered a heart attack last week. Mattingly said he hopes Guerra will be back for Wednesday's game, and that when Guerra does return the team will use eight relievers until Billingsley is activated on Monday.
Fife, who last pitched for the Isotopes on July 6, was 7-5 with a 4.53 ERA in 18 starts in Triple A this season. After putting up a 6.06 ERA and a 10.2% walk rate in his first 10 starts, Fife is 4-1 with a 2.78 ERA and a 5.7% walk rate in his last eight starts. Mattingly saw Fife pitch twice during spring training.
"He's more of a control type, sinker ball guy. He'll rely hopefully on keeping the ball down and having movement," Mattingly said. "He's a guy who tries to keep the ball down, locate, and change speeds."
Starting Lineups
Bobby Abreu was given IV fluids before the game, as Mattingly said his left fielder was feeling a little down today. But the situation was not serious enough to hinder Abreu from playing, as he is batting leadoff.
Roy Halladay was activated from the disabled list on Tuesday, and will make his first start since May 27. The Phillies outrighted reliever Brian Sanches to Triple A Lehigh Valley to make room on the roster for Halladay.
| Phillies | Dodgers | |||
| SS | Rollins (S) | LF | Abreu (L) |
|
| CF | Victorino (S) | 2B | Ellis | |
| 2B | Utley (L) | CF | Kemp | |
| 1B | Howard (L) | RF | Ethier (L) | |
| C | Ruiz | 3B | Kennedy (L) |
|
| RF | Pence | 1B | Loney (L) | |
| LF | Pierre (L) | SS | Cruz | |
| 3B | Polanco | C | Ellis | |
| P | Halladay | P | Fife | |
Game Time: 7:10 p.m.
TV: KCAL