The Dodgers are currently on a unique two-city road trip that started Monday -- a different pitcher will take the mound each day of the trip. In the series against the Arizona Diamondbacks (Sept. 7-9), the Dodgers will go with Vicente Padilla, Chad Billingsley and Jon Garland. At San Francisco this weekend, they will use Clayton Kershaw, Randy Wolf and Kuroda.

Adding to the intrigue of the six-man starting staff is the fact that the Dodgers have one day off each week until the season ends. That means their starters will get just one start a week if the plan holds into October.

"This time of year, I don't think an extra day or two (of rest) hurts anybody, especially with guys who throw the ball hard," manager Joe Torre said. "Finesse pitchers are a little different. They may need to work as close to their day as possible because they are more about feel and touch. But with Kershaw and Billingsley and those guys, I think an extra day doesn't hurt them."

PADRES 4, DODGERS 3: The first-place Dodgers completed a disappointing 3-4 road trip against Arizona and San Diego and will hit the road with a 3-1/2-game lead on the Rockies. Hiroki Kuroda gave up four runs (three earned) in his return from the disabled list because of a concussion. Andre Ethier had a two-run double in the seventh inning, but flew out with the tying run on base in the ninth to end the game.