LOS ANGELES (AP) -Arizona's Randy Johnson, six wins shy of 300 career victories, was scratched from Sunday's start against the Los Angeles Dodgers because of a sore left shoulder.
Johnson, who turns 45 next week, will be replaced by right-hander Max Scherzer.
Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said that Johnson will miss one turn, returning to the rotation next Saturday at home against Cincinnati.
``I felt it in my last start against St. Louis, but I pitched through it and the results were what they were,'' Johnson said before Saturday's game against the Dodgers. ``I played catch today and it felt a lot better than it did yesterday. I mean, yes, I could pitch.
``How effective remains to be seen. But there's no sense in pushing it because I'm not in that situation. If tomorrow was a must-win game and they put their faith in me, then I would go out there and pitch. But that's not the case right now.''
Scherzer (0-2) will be making his fourth big-league start in the finale of a three-game series between the NL West's top teams. He'll oppose 20-year-old left-hander Clayton Kershaw (3-5).
Johnson (10-9), winless in his last four starts, gave up four homers to match a career high in 3 2-3 innings in Arizona's 8-6 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday.
Originally, he was scheduled face 354-game winner Greg Maddux on Sunday, but Dodgers manager Joe Torre wanted Kershaw to pitch to neutralize Arizona's left-handed bats.
The Diamondbacks held a half-game lead over the Dodgers entering Saturday's game.
