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LOS ANGELES — Hyun-jin Ryu will start the Dodgers’ series opener against the Rockies at Coors Field on Thursday night, the first day he is eligible to be activated off the disabled list.
Ryu was placed on the 10-day DL on May 1 with what manager Dave Roberts called a glute strain, suffered while sliding into second base one day earlier. The Dodgers officially listed Ryu’s malady as a left hip contusion. But no matter what the reason, the amazingly convenient byproduct of the DL stint was to limit the innings of a pitcher who hasn’t pitched much in the last two years.
The Dodgers really had no other choice but to pitch Ryu in one of the first two games of the series in Colorado, unless they planned to bring somebody else up from the minors.
Starting lineups
| Pos | Pirates | Pos | Dodgers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Pirates | Pos | Dodgers |
| 3B | Harrison | LF | Toles (L) |
| SS | Mercer | SS | Seager (L) |
| CF | McCutchen | 3B | Turner |
| RF | Polanco (L) | 1B | Bellinger (L) |
| 1B | Osuna | CF | Pederson (L) |
| C | Cervelli | C | Grandal (S) |
| LF | Bostick | 2B | Taylor |
| 2B | Ngoepe | RF | Puig |
| P | Nova | P | Urias (L) |
Rich Hill is currently on the DL, but will make a rehab start on Wednesday in San Jose in hopes of starting next Tuesday in San Francisco. Brandon McCarthy was placed on the DL on Monday, and isn’t eligible to return until next Monday. Starting Ryu on Thursday allows the Dodgers to start Clayton Kershaw on Friday, giving Kershaw an extra day of rest after throwing a season-high 118 pitches on Saturday in San Diego.
Forysthe needs more time
Dodgers infielder Logan Forsythe ran a little bit in the outfield before batting practice on Tuesday at Dodger Stadium, but he will not be activated until the Dodgers return for their next homestand, which starts on Thursday, May 18.
Forsythe was rehabbing a broken right big toe, but saw his minor league rehab assignment cut short by hamstring tightness. He last played for the Dodgers on Apr. 18.
Chris Taylor is back in the lineup at second base against Pirates starter Ivan Nova on Wednesday, the second straight start for Taylor against a right-handed pitcher and third such start in the majors this season. Taylor is hitting .395/.521/.684 in 48 plate appearances.
"CT is getting a nice run. He’s earned it. But tomorrow I’m going to get Chase [Utley] in there," Roberts said. "I think Chase needs to stay relevant, or current, or however you want to put it."
Utley is just 5-for-51 (.098) this season, with a double and seven walks.