LOS ANGELES — Arizona's Randy Johnson, six wins shy of 300 career victories, was scratched from tomorrow'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.