Brett Anderson will make 2016 debut for Dodgers on Sunday

After being sidelined for the first four months of the season, Brett Anderson is scheduled to make his 2016 debut for the Dodgers on Sunday against Pittsburgh.

Anderson underwent back surgery in March, and acted as the first domino to fall in a season marred by pitching injuries.

But the Dodgers have rebounded despite the flurry of setbacks, and now Anderson is ready to join them. He made three minor league rehabilitation starts to rebuild arm strength.

“I’m excited for Brett,” Manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s been a long road for him. To get him back is obviously a good thing for us.”

Brandon McCarthy will start Saturday. He completed a bullpen session Thursday in which, in his words, the catcher caught all of his pitches, which served as an upgrade from his performances earlier this month.

McCarthy rediscovered a comfort in his delivery that was lacking in his last two starts. He threw in the bullpen at a level that convinced Roberts and pitching coach Rick Honeycutt he could survive on Saturday.

“I felt normal this week,” McCarthy said. “That’s what I’m going off.”

With McCarthy and Anderson in the rotation, rookie Julio Urias returned to the bullpen. Urias celebrated his 20th birthday on Friday.

“Hey Juli!” Roberts called out to Urias as he spoke with the media before the game. “Feliz cumpleanos! You get the cake coming. And a hug.”

Short hops

Roberts repeated his hope that outfielder Andre Ethier (broken leg) can contribute this season. Ethier has been able to take batting practice and jog. But given the lack of healing with his leg, Roberts said, “while September is certainly realistic, but to what capacity or extent, we really don’t know.” . . . Clayton Kershaw (herniated disk) played catch again on Friday, but the Dodgers still will not share whether or when he is planning to pitch off a mound again . . . With reliever Joe Blanton back from the bereavement list, the Dodgers optioned reliever Luis Avilan to the minors.

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