Dodgers set pitching rotation vs. Giants: Hyun-jin Ryu Friday, Paul Maholm Saturday

SAN DIEGO -- The Dodgers announced their starting rotation plans for their weekend series at Dodger Stadium, and Hyun-jin Ryu gets the call in the home opener on Friday against the Giants. Paul Maholm gets the start on Saturday afternoon, his first start as a Dodger, with Zack Greinke starting the finale on Sunday night, the second consecutive week the Dodgers will be on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball.

Ryu gets the call on regular rest rather than an extra day of rest on Saturday. The Dodgers have off days on Monday and Thursday next week as well to give their starters extra rest as needed. Ryu, who started the second game in Australia then the domestic opener on Sunday night in San Diego, will have started three of the Dodgers' first six regular season games. He has yet to allow a run this season, in 12 innings.

The Saturday decision of Maholm over Josh Beckett is two-fold. Keeping Beckett on the disabled list for a little bit longer gives the Dodgers a chance to keep an extra relief pitcher on the roster until he is activated, which probably won't be until next weekend at the earliest.

Also, Beckett will pitch in a minor league rehab game to get ready and build his pitch count up for when he is ready. Manager Don Mattingly said Beckett would likely start Friday night for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga — sorry, Julio Urias fans — and that the right-hander would likely only need one minor league start before getting activated.

"It will give him a chance to build," Mattingly said. "We feel like he's pretty much ready."

The Giants will counter with Ryan Vogelsong on Friday, Madison Bumgarner on Saturday, and Matt Cain on Sunday.