Dodgers to start Correia on Monday in Atlanta
Righty, who was acquired from Twins, will give rest of rotation extra rest
MILWAUKEE -- The Dodgers will start new acquisition Kevin Correia on Monday in Atlanta, using him as a sixth starter to give their weary rotation an extra day of rest.
Among the pitchers who will welcome the extra rest are Zack Greinke, who said he's going through typical treatment protocol to stay on a five-day cycle, and Hyun-Jin Ryu, whose improved performance on a six-day cycle is well documented.
Manager Don Mattingly, "hypothetically speaking," detailed why the club would go temporarily with a six-man rotation, stopping short of confirming it because Correia, acquired late Saturday night from Minnesota, won't be activated until he joins the team on Monday in Atlanta, with a corresponding 25-man roster move needed.
"If it would happen," Mattingly said, "it would be to give all of the starters a breather. He's given us trouble. He's always around the strike zone. He knows what he's doing. He's a Southern California kid. He fits in just what we need."
Correia, a former All-Star, last started for Minnesota on Wednesday, so Monday is his regular day to pitch.
The Dodgers opened a 40-man roster spot for Correia by designating left-handed reliever Colt Hynes for assignment. He was acquired earlier in the year from Cleveland and was at Triple-A Albuquerque.
Correia replaces swing man Paul Maholm, who was lost for the season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He will have surgery Thursday.
The Dodgers are in a 20-day stretch of games, during which they lost Maholm, starter Josh Beckett (left hip impingement) and relievers Chris Perez (right ankle bone spur) and Paco Rodriguez (teres major strain). Their next off-day is a week from Monday.
Beckett could be lost for the year. The Dodgers replaced him with the trade for Roberto Hernandez. The bullpen, however, still includes rookies Carlos Frias and Pedro Baez, one of whom figures to be optioned to make room for Correia.