Double-A Prospect to Replace Nomo

DENVER —  The Dodgers on Sunday promoted standout minor league pitcher Edwin Jackson to replace Hideo Nomo in the rotation.

With Nomo sidelined because of a shoulder injury, Jackson will start Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Bank One Ballpark.

The 19-year-old double-A right-hander is scheduled to face five-time Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson.

The Dodgers are in the thick of the National League wild-card race and the struggling Diamondbacks are fighting to remain in playoff contention, so Jackson won’t be eased in slowly.

But the Dodgers believe their top pitching prospect is ready for the challenge.

“He’s the guy,” Manager Jim Tracy said of Jackson, who turns 20 on Tuesday. “I don’t think age has a whole lot to do with it. Character and composure, there’s a whole lot to be said for that, and you hear nothing but good things about him.

“The Marlins don’t have any apprehension about [21-year-old starter] Dontrelle Willis in a pennant race. I don’t see why we should. We’re not asking this kid to go out there and pitch a complete game. If he wants to, that’s fine.”

Not surprisingly, Jackson expressed excitement after joining the team before Sunday’s 6-2 victory over Colorado.

“I’m still like a little kid when you first take him to Disney World -- eyes open and admiring where you’re at,” he said.

The Dodgers purchased the contract of Jackson, in his second full season as a pitcher, because Nomo was recently diagnosed with inflammation of his rotator cuff. Team medical personnel determined Nomo needs more time to recover from his “dead-arm” phase.

The Dodgers converted Jackson after selecting him as an outfielder in the sixth round of the 2001 amateur draft. He was selected the organization’s minor league pitcher of the year in 2002 after going 5-2 with a 1.98 earned-run average for Class-A South Georgia.

This season, Jackson went 7-7 with a 3.70 ERA and 157 strikeouts in 148 1/3 innings for double-A Jacksonville. He was at the top of other teams’ wish lists in trade discussions, baseball executives said.

General Manager Dan Evans passed on acquiring star outfielder Brian Giles because Pittsburgh wanted Jackson. Giles recently was traded to San Diego.

Jackson impressed pitching coach Jim Colborn in a bullpen session. “It’s hard not to be excited. He’s got a great delivery,” Colborn said of Jackson, whose fastball has been clocked in the mid-90s. “How well he can control his emotions and feel comfortable in a setting different from the one he’s been used to ... that’ll be the big thing.”

And what about opposing the Big Unit? “He’s facing the Diamondbacks and the Diamondbacks’ hitters,” Colborn said. “Randy’s batting ninth.”

Jackson acknowledges pitching against the Diamondbacks in a tight race will be different than facing the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx.

“I have to do what I’ve been doing the whole year, and not let the atmosphere get to me,” said Jackson, the first Dodger promoted from double A to the majors since Adrian Beltre in 1998. “It’s my chance to step up and show everybody it wasn’t a mistake.”

ON DECK

Opponent -- Arizona Diamondbacks, four games.

Site -- Bank One Ballpark.

TV -- All games on Fox Sports Net 2.

Radio -- KFWB (980), KWKW (1330).

Records -- Dodgers 75-66, Diamondbacks 73-70.

Record vs. Diamondbacks -- 6-6.

Tonight, 6:30 -- Kevin Brown (13-8, 2.37) vs. Miguel Batista (9-8, 3.30).

Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. -- Edwin Jackson (0-0, 0.00) vs. Randy Johnson (4-7, 4.98).

Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. -- Kazuhisa Ishii (9-5, 3.42) vs. Brandon Webb (8-7, 2.51).

Thursday, 6:30 p.m. -- Odalis Perez (12-10, 4.52) vs. Curt Schilling (7-8, 2.77).