Nathan Eovaldi expected to be called up to start for Ted Lilly

Nathan Eovaldi appears headed back to the Dodgers to make at least one start for left-hander Ted Lilly.

Lilly was off to a brilliant start this season, going 6-1 with a 1.79 earned-run average in his seven starts before getting knocked around for eight runs in 3 1/3 innings in Arizona on Wednesday during his eighth start.

The Dodgers would not confirm that he was injured, but Lilly is not expected to make his next scheduled start Tuesday against the Brewers.

[Updated, 9:01 p.m., May 27: Chattanooga pitching coach Chuck Crim later confirmed to The Times’ Kevin Baxter that Eovaldi is headed to Los Angeles and said he was told the right-hander would take Lilly’s place in the rotation.]

Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly was unusually coy about Eovaldi, who was scheduled to start Saturday night for double-A Chattanooga but instead pitched one inning of relief, striking out all three batters.

“I guaranteed you he won’t be here Monday,” Mattingly said.

He did not, however, guarantee Eovaldi would not be at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday when Lilly is supposed to start. Lilly began the season on the disabled list with a strained neck.

Eovaldi, 2-2 with a 3.09 ERA at Chattanooga, appeared in 10 games for the Dodgers last season (six starts), going 1-2 with a 3.63 ERA. As a starter he went 1-2 with a 3.09 ERA.

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Nathan Eovaldi expected to be called up to start for Ted Lilly