Padres On Deck: vs. Dodgers, Game 1 of 3

LA Dodgers (2-1) at San Diego (3-1), 7:05 pm, 4SD

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) - The signing of Japanese righthander Hiroki Kuroda may have fallen under the radar, but the Los Angeles Dodgers expect him to hold up the back end of their rotation. After 10 seasons in the Japanese Central League, Kuroda will make his major league debut for the Dodgers on Friday when they travel to Petco Park to face the San Diego Padres.

Los Angeles signed the 33-year-old Kuroda to a three-year, $35 million contract in December after going 91-81 with a 3.77 ERA in 244 appearances with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. The righthander, who was named the league's Most Valuable Pitcher in 2005, went 12-8 with a 3.56 ERA and seven complete games in 26 outings in 2007.

Opposing him on the mound will be Justin Germano, who started 4-0 with a 1.74 ERA in his first five starts after joining the rotation in May. He faded over his next 21 starts though, going 3-10 with a 5.28 ERA, and eventually was banished to the bullpen.