Clark starts in right field over Ethier

Call it a left-handed compliment. Manager Grady Little lauded Andre Ethier even though the second-year outfielder wasn’t in the lineup against a left-handed pitcher for the fifth time.

“We think this guy is going to be a great player for us,” Little said. “He’s trying to get things turned around, and when he does, we’ll go from there.”

The Dodgers are 4-1 when Ethier starts, although he is batting only .118. When right-handed hitting Matt Kemp went on the disabled list Tuesday, it was expected that Ethier -- who led the Dodgers with a .308 average last season -- would get some breathing room and play several days in a row.

But the right-handed hitting Brady Clark started in right against left-hander David Wells. Clark made the move look good, hitting a double and scoring the second Dodgers run in the second inning, driving in a run with a groundout in the third and hitting a single and scoring in the fifth.

“We’ve got plenty of playing time for everyone,” Little said. “Brady Clark is a good player, and today is his turn to start a game.”

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Jason Schmidt has had no recurrence of the cramp in his right hamstring that forced him to leave his last start in the fifth inning and will pitch tonight on regular rest, switching spots in the rotation with left-hander Randy Wolf.

Wolf opened the season as the No. 2 starter to ensure that he started against the San Francisco Giants last weekend. Little would rather have Wolf start between Schmidt and Brad Penny so opponents don’t see the similar-throwing right-handers on consecutive days.

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Hank Aaron and Frank Robinson will throw out first pitches as part of the pregame celebration of the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s breaking the color barrier Sunday.

The festivities will begin with a video tribute to Robinson, followed by an “Ode to Jackie” reading by Courtney B. Vance, Marlon Wayans and Angela Bassett. The Brookinaires Gospel Choir from the First African Methodist Episcopal Church, the oldest black church in Los Angeles, will perform “Oh Happy Day,” and Jennifer Hudson, who starred in “Dreamgirls” and won the Oscar for best supporting actress, will sing the national anthem.

The Dodgers will have two 63-foot-tall murals of Robinson on the outside of the stadium, and players and coaches will wear No. 42 decals on their caps as well as wear the uniform number of the former Brooklyn Dodgers Hall-of-Fame infielder.

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Reliever Chin-hui Tsao was optioned to triple-A Las Vegas after spending two games with the Dodgers and pitching in neither. The Dodgers preferred to go with 11 pitchers -- the way they started the season -- rather than risk losing utility player Wilson Valdez.

Valdez, who is batting .368 after hitting .356 in spring training, has no minor league options and the Dodgers don’t believe he would clear waivers if they sent him to triple-A. So at least for now he remains on the roster, although his skills are somewhat redundant given the presence of veteran utility player Ramon Martinez.

“It’s hard not to like [Valdez],” Little said. “He has the ability to help us in a lot of different areas. His versatility is a big plus.”

steve.henson@latimes.com