LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers are banking on Brett Anderson to provide some relief to their ailing starting rotation.Anderson will make his season debut Sunday when he starts against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the rubber match of the three-game series at Dodger Stadium.Anderson, in his second season with the Dodgers, is returning after undergoing arthroscopic back surgery for a bulging disk on March 3.Im excited for Brett. Its been a long road for him, Dodger manager Dave Roberts said. To get him back, I think its obviously a good thing for us.The Dodgers could use a major boost from Anderson. With ace Clayton Kershaw (herniated disk) out until September, and the recently acquired Rich Hill (blisters on middle pitching finger) and Bud Norris (mild mid-back strain) on the disabled list for possibly another week, Andersons addition couldnt be more timely for the Dodgers.In Saturdays 8-4 win by the Dodgers, starter Brandon McCarthy left with right hip stiffness. McCarthy, who had Tommy John surgery in April 2015, could be headed to the disabled list since the right-hander admitted all is not right with him physically and mentally.It has been a (revolving door) but I think each guy that has been given an opportunity has competed really well and given us a chance, said Roberts, who has relied on spot starts from rookies Ross Stripling and Julio Urias, among others. Were excited (for Sunday) to No. 1 win the series and also get Brett in the mix for 2016.Anderson made three rehab starts with Class A Rancho Cucamonga and Triple-A Oklahoma City, compiling an 0-1 mark with a 2.25 ERA with 11 strikeouts and one walk in 12 innings.He last faced the Pirates on July 25, 2014 as a member of the Colorado Rockies, limiting them to two hits in 6 1/3 scoreless innings and earning the win in an 8-1 Rockies victory. He struck out one and walked four on 102 pitches.In two career starts against Pittsburgh, Anderson is 1-0 with a 0.68 ERA and has limited the Pirates to a .130 batting average.Chad Kuhl (2-0, 3.91 ERA) will get the nod for the Pirates. The 23-year-old right-hander worked six innings in his last start, allowing two runs on four hits with four strikeouts and four walks in a 6-4 decision over the San Diego Padres in Pittsburgh last Tuesday.Kuhl made his big league debut and captured a 4-3 decision over Kershaw and the Dodgers at PNC Park on June 26. Its the only time hes faced the Dodgers.Pirates manager Clint Hurdle is hoping Kuhl can slow the Dodgers offense, which hammered the Pirates for 17 hits Saturday. The Pirates couldnt take advantage of 11 walks by Dodgers pitchers and tied a franchise record by stranding 18 runners.They were out there. We couldnt get them in, Hurdle said. I dont think we were doing anything but fight, scratch, claw our way back in the game by getting guys in. Bases loaded twice against McCarthy, a ball in the gap would have been nice. We just werent able to score. Discount Custom Hockey Jerseys . -- Teemu Selanne scored the first goal of his 22nd NHL season, and the Anaheim Ducks extended the best start in franchise history with their fifth straight victory, 3-2 over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. Custom Anaheim Ducks Jerseys Cheap . Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC failed to make the postseason while Montreal Impact fell at the first hurdle losing heavily to Houston Dynamo in the Eastern Conference Knockout Round. http://www.hockeyjerseyscustom.com/custom-colorado-avalanche-jerseys-cheap-283k .ca! Hi Kerry, Its another day and here we are looking at another dubious hit to the head. In this case Blue Jackets forward Brandon Dubinsky elbowed Saku Koivu in the head about a second after he dished off the puck to a teammate, knocking him unconscious. Custom Edmonton Oilers Jerseys Cheap . After taking two big hits this week -- losing at home and dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season -- Indiana struck back by playing its most complete game of the year. Custom Jerseys Wholesale .Y. -- Jayna Hefford scored the winning goal Friday as Canada survived a scare with a 4-3 win over Sweden at the Four Nations womens hockey tournament.Stoke boss Mark Hughes says there is no reason Leicesters stunning story cannot be repeated next season. Claudio Ranieris side, rank outsiders at the start of the campaign, defied extraordinary odds to claim the first top-flight title in their 132-year history with two matches to spare.Despite their success, bookmakers have installed them around the 40/1 mark to repeat the feat next season. But Hughes says Leicester, or any other so-called unfashionable club, should not be written off. Speaking ahead of Saturdays trip to Crystal Palace, Hughes, whose side lie 10th in the Premier League, said: Whether or not it is unprecedented, are we going to see more so-called unfashionable clubs getting to the top of the pile, who knows?But its a great effort that Leicester have been able to do it with a couple of games to spare. They deserve great credit for that. Leicester City players celebrate title their success at clubs training ground The fact Leicester have done that probably adds more pressure on clubs like Stoke because now everyone thinks maybe wwe can do it, or other teams in and around the top 10.ddddddddddddBut Hughes insists a number of factors must fall in line if any manager is to have a chance of adding only the seventh name to the Premier League trophy.Its not easy, he added. You have to have things go for you, you need a bit of luck along the way and the players have to be at the the top of their level for the entire season and that doesnt happen very often. You need good players, a good team and a good work ethic. If you have all these things, and a little bit of luck, then you have a chance.Despite the countrys leading clubs looking certain to strengthen in the summer, Hughes is adamant another shock winner this time next year cannot be ruled out.Leicester have shown what can happen and that will obviously resonate with a lot of clubs, he said.You sense next season the so-called bigger clubs will have something to say about that, and probably give it a better run than they did this season. But when an opportunity presents itself you have to grab it, and that is what Leicester have done. Also See: Stoke video Stoke fixtures Stoke stats Get a ￡10 free bet! ' ' '
