Eric Surkamp to join Dodgers on Monday

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers will call up Eric Surkamp on Monday night for the opener of a four-game series against the Phillies at Dodger Stadium. Surkamp will likely start, though manager Don Mattingly was bizarrely secretive about that detail after Sunday's game.

"Surkamp is coming up," Mattingly said.

Is he coming up to start Monday?

"I'm not sure about that," Mattingly said.

Mattingly did confirm that Brett Anderson would not move up a day to start Monday, on what would be four days rest. Instead, Anderson starts Tuesday.

"We're just not ready to announce [Monday's starter]," Mattingly said, when pressed. "It's not that big a secret."

The left-hander Surkamp was scratched from his scheduled start on Sunday for Triple-A Oklahoma City. The Dodgers need a Monday starter to replace of Carlos Frias, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Sunday with lower back tightness.

Surkamp, who turns 28 on July 16, was acquired from the White Sox on May 22 for Blake Smith. a Surkamp was 4-2 with a 4.50 ERA in seven games for Triple-A Oklahoma City, including six starts. But after relieving with Triple-A Charlotte his first two outings with OKC were three innings each in an effort to stretch him out. In his last five outings for Oklahoma City, Surkamp is 4-0 with a 2.89 ERA, with 22 strikeouts and five walks in 28 innings.

He pitched in the major leagues in parts of three seasons, in 2011 and 2013 with the Giants and in 2014 with the White Sox. He is 4-3 with a 6.20 major league ERA in 42 games, including seven starts, with 33 strikeouts and 30 walks in 53⅔ innings.

Surkamp's last major league start July 23, 2013 with San Francisco, allowing seven runs on nine hits in 2⅔ innings in a loss to the Reds.

The Dodgers will need to make a corresponding move to add space for Surkamp on the 40-man roster, which will likely be transferring Paco Rodriguez to the 60-day disabled list. Rodriguez, who last pitched May 29, had left elbow surgery on Thursday and is expected to be out until September.

A relief pitcher will likely be optioned to make room for Surkamp on the active roster, with Daniel Coulombe the most likely to be sent down for what would be a sixth time this season. Coulombe pitched the final two innings and threw 28 pitches on Sunday against the Mets.

Sean O'Sullivan starts for the Phillies on Monday night.