Rookie right-hander James McDonald and second-year lefty Clayton Kershaw suffered almost identical meltdowns in this weekend's series at Colorado. The two combined to give up 14 runs over 9 1/3 innings, and Kershaw has now allowed a total of 15 runs over nine innings in his past two starts.
Those ugly numbers combined with a recent surge by veteran lefty Eric Milton at Class AAA Albuquerque could force changes in the Dodgers' starting rotation this week. Milton has now pitched 12 shutout innings in his two most recent starts for Albuquerque, including a six-inning, two-hit effort in Sunday's win at New Orleans. He came to spring training on a minor-league contract that included an escape clause if he didn't make the Opening Day roster. But after getting roughed up all spring, he agreed to go to the minors for about a month and see what happened.
That month is almost over now, and Milton has given every indication of late that he finally is all the way back from the Tommy John surgery he underwent almost two years ago.
Meanwhile, McDonald's next scheduled start is Thursday against San Diego, with Kershaw set for Friday against the Padres. It is difficult to imagine Kershaw, long the organization's brightest pitching prospect, being removed from the rotation. But as the fifth starter, McDonald is something of a swing man, and Dodgers manager Joe Torre has repeatedly hinted that he likes the idea of having him in the bullpen. McDonald pitched 11 1/3 shutout innings of relief, playoffs included, after receiving his first big-league call-up last year.
It also is difficult to imagine, though, that if Milton were to be called up this week, he would be asked to pitch Thursday on short rest. He threw 85 pitches Sunday, and again, he has a history of elbow problems.
"We have no plan yet," Torre said before Sunday's game -- and before Kershaw's implosion or Milton's strong performance. "We haven't really talked a lot about any changes right now. I think we'll wait until (reliever) Cory (Wade) comes back and see where we are, because he certainly will help our bullpen."
Wade, who is on the disabled list with bursitis in his right shoulder, is expected to be activated on Thursday unless he suffers a setback in his rehabilitation appearance for Class A Inland Empire on Tuesday.
ROCKIES 10, DODGERS 4: Clayton Kershaw cruised through two perfect innings before issuing a leadoff walk to Chris Iannetta to begin the third and giving up a two-run homer to Clint Barmes on his very next pitch. Kershaw never recovered and wound up getting bombed for a career-worst nine runs in 4 1/3 innings. The Dodgers tried to claw back into the game in the late innings, scoring four runs. They stranded seven runners from the sixth inning on.
