LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Dodgers will purchase the contract of left-hander Dana Eveland from Triple-A Albuquerque before Thursday's makeup game in Pittsburgh and start him against the Pirates, manager Don Mattingly confirmed after Wednesday's victory over the San Diego Padres. Eveland, a Palmdale High School graduate, will be making his first big league appearance since June 23, 2010, with the Pirates.
The Dodgers also are expected to recall a utility infielder from the Isotopes. Of the two who are presently on the 40-man roster, Ivan De Jesus was in the starting lineup for Albuquerque's game at Memphis on Wednesday night and Russell Mitchell
wasn't -- a clear sign that Mitchell is on his way to Pittsburgh to join the Dodgers.
Active rosters can expand to as many as 40 players beginning on Thursday.
Eveland presumably will stay in the rotation for the rest of the season because rookie Nate Eovaldi is expected to go back to the bullpen following his next start on Saturday night in Atlanta, as club officials want to limit his innings. However, Mattingly did say earlier this week that Eovaldi could get still another start after that.
The Dodgers will make a handful of additional moves later in September, with general manager Ned Colletti saying some of them will come when Albuquerque concludes its regular season on Monday. Still others could come when affiliates complete their playoff runs.
Eveland, 27, has spent parts of six seasons in the majors. He is 12-8 with a 4.38 ERA in 25 starts for the Isotopes this season, and he will be well-rested for his Dodgers debut, as he hasn't pitched since Aug. 24. He will be added to the one open spot on the Dodgers' 40-man roster, but the club still could clear several more spots by moving players who aren't expected back this season to the 60-day disabled list.
Tony Jackson covers the Dodgers for ESPNLosAngeles.com.