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Beckett returns to face Pirates

Jul 22, 2014 - 2:40 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Josh Beckett's hip injury isn't healed, but the right- hander is still ready to return to the Los Angeles Dodgers' rotation.

Beckett gets the call on Tuesday night for the second contest of a three-game series with the hosting Pittsburgh Pirates.

The 34-year-old is set for his first start since July 6, when his nagging hip finally forced him out of action. He has since been diagnosed with a torn labrum and two cysts, but plans on pitching through the issue for the remainder of the season with rest and occasional cortisone shots.

Beckett has already had one shot and was able to throw a 40-pitch bullpen session on Saturday. He told the Dodgers' website he thinks he can have another shot in about a month.

"I don't think [the feeling is] going to go away, I think that's just going to be something I might have to deal with," Beckett added on the website. "I feel like as long as I'm not messing up my mechanics and I feel like I can get people out, I'm just going to ride it out until the end of the year."

Beckett is nearly two months removed from his no-hitter against Philadelphia on May 25 and is 3-4 in eight starts since, but has allowed more than two runs just once over at time. He is 6-5 on the year with a 2.26 earned run average.

Beckett is 1-2 with a 2.16 ERA lifetime versus the Pirates, including a loss on May 30 even though he gave up only two runs in five innings of work.

Pittsburgh's Vance Worley will make his first start since July 8 and does so against a Dodgers team he has allowed nine runs to over eight innings and two starts without a decision. He has fanned 10 in those outings, but also allowed 12 hits and six walks.

The 26-year-old righty is 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA in six games this season, all but one of those starts. Worley's most recent appearance was a relief outing on July 13 versus Cincinnati.

The Dodgers got seven strong innings from Hyun-Jin Ryu on Monday in a 5-2 win. Ryu allowed both runs and struck out five as Los Angeles snapped Pittsburgh's six-game winning streak at home.

Adrian Gonzalez went 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles and one RBI for a Dodgers club that has won four of six to remain tied with San Francisco for first place in the NL West.

Los Angeles plated all five of its runs over the third and fourth innings.

"With five runs in those two innings and Ryu on the mound, it was enough for sure," Gonzalez said.

Justin Turner drove in two runs, starting at shortstop in place of Hanley Ramirez, who was hit by a pitch over the weekend on the wrist against the St. Louis Cardinals. Outfielder Yasiel Puig was also hit on the hand by a pitch against the Cards and both players sat out on Monday, though X-rays were negative.

Edinson Volquez was tagged with the loss for the Pirates, allowing five runs and a season-high 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings and having his personal four-game winning streak snapped.

"We'll get him back on track and I'm sure he'll sharpen up," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said of Volquez.

Pittsburgh fell 2 1/2 games out of first place in the NL Central.

The Pirates took three of four from the Dodgers in L.A. from May 29-June 1.