Hiroki Kuroda hasn't pitched since Opening Day in San Diego, sidelined with a strained left oblique. His two-month wait looks to have finally come to end, as Joe Torre announced today that he will be the starting pitcher Monday night against the Diamondbacks.
The Dodgers are obviously playing very well, as they have been able to come up with key play after key play. But they need Kuroda to provide stability and give them solid innings. Aside from Chad Billingsley and Randy Wolf, the rest of the rotation has ranged from good one day to barely giving any innings the next.
With Kuroda back, the plan is to have Clayton Kershaw in the long relief role Monday in case Kuroda wears down, or is knocked around, early. If Kershaw isn't needed, he will likely start Thursday night's game. The strategy will keep Billingsley and Wolf on their regular five-day cycle.
Once Kuroda is back, then it will be a battle between Eric Stults and Eric Milton for the final spot. It should be Stults', but he is still a bit banged up with a sore left thumb. Milton looked good his last start in Colorado, so maybe it'll be him for the time being. It could go either way.
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