Joe Wieland to start for Dodgers tonight

Mike McGinnis/Getty Images

By Jon Weisman

Shifting gears in their starting rotation, the Dodgers have chosen to have Joe Wieland make his second start of the season tonight against the Angels.

Mat Latos, who had originally been penciled in for the start, has neck stiffness, the Dodgers said.

Wieland led Triple-A Oklahoma City during the regular season with 113 2/3 innings, getting one more out than Zach Lee, who starts Game 1 of the Pacific Coast League American Conference best-of-five finals tonight against Round Rock. Wieland had a 4.59 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in Triple-A, allowing seven homers while striking out 92.

Via #Dodgers beat writers … upcoming Dodger rotation:
Friday: Wood
Saturday: Bolsinger
Sunday: Greinke
Monday: Kershaw
Tuesday: Anderson

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) September 9, 2015

In his only Major League start this season, Wieland allowed two two-run homers before getting an out in the first inning at Milwaukee on May 6. He ultimately lasted 4 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on six hits and four walks while striking out two. Wieland told Ken Gurnick of MLB.com after the game that he couldn’t locate his fastball and began using his changeup in the second inning.

Traded to the Dodgers in the Yasmani Grandal deal last winter, Wieland had Tommy John surgery in July 2012 and returned to action 368 days ago.

“I was full go the whole time,” he told Dodger Insider in January. “My UCL, the graft they put in, never had any issues. It was the back of the elbow that I was having problems with. Fortunately, we were able to find out what was wrong and take care of that, but I never had any issues of concern, being a little conservative, trying to hold back.”

Also in tonight’s lineup: Scott Schebler (4 for 10 with a homer and two steals) becomes the Dodgers’ 10th leadoff hitter of the season, and Austin Barnes (.350 on-base percentage in 20 plate appearances) is making his sixth start for Los Angeles.

Dodger leadoff hitters in '15: Pederson (68 games), Rollins (52), Puig (7), Hernandez (5), Crawford (2), Turner, Heisey, Barney, Ruggiano.

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) September 8, 2015