A.J. Ellis was activated from the disabled list after dealing with an oblique injury.

The Dodgers on Friday activated catcher A.J. Ellis from the disabled list, before the start of a three-game weekend series against the Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. To make room in the roster, the Dodgers designated Ramon Hernandez for assignment.

Good to have A.J. back, as the Dodgers could use his on-base skills and ability to not be Ramon Hernandez behind the dish. Seriously though, his defense was remarkably bad.

—–

Hanley Ramirez returned to action following his hamstring injury acting up.

The Dodgers welcome back Hanley Ramirez to the starting lineup on Friday night in their series opener against the Pirates, the first start for the shortstop since June 5 Ramirez missed 28 games with a strained left hamstring, and since his June 4 return he has been limited by the same hamstring to just two starts in nine games.

Ramirez has also appeared as a pinch-hitter four times and is 2-for-10 with a double since returning from the disabled list.

The injury has kept him from starting and limited him to just pinch-hitting appearances. Soon after returning, he suffered a less serious but more cringe-worthy injury.

Yeah … no.

—–

Yasiel Puig strained his right shoulder during the pointless brawl with the D-Backs.

Because of course he did.

Congratulations Yasiel Puig, you are now officially a member of the 2013 Dodgers. The rookie sensation was scratched from the starting lineup for Wednesday’s series finale against the Diamondbacks with a strained right shoulder, the team announced. He is listed as day-to-day.

The Dodgers listed him as day-to-day and he returned to the lineup shortly thereafter.

—–

Matt Kemp is taking batting practice and doing light running as he works his way back from a hamstring injury.

As for Kemp, Mattingly said he didn’t know when the center fielder would be ready to play in rehab games. Kemp, on the disabled list since May 30 with a strained right hamstring, took batting practice on Wednesday and did some light running at Dodger Stadium.

“He’s still kind of progressing,” Mattingly said. “It’s just going to be a matter of him saying he’s OK to go out. I know we want to be careful. We don’t want him to go backwards.”

Bill Plunkett of the OC Register gives us a firmer timetable after speaking with Don Mattingly.

Indications from #Dodgers Don Mattingly — OF Matt Kemp at least week away from returning. 4-5 more days rest, 3-4 games on rehab when ready

The Dodgers could use a healthy Bison back in center as soon as he’s physically capable of doing so.

—–

Juan Uribe was scratched from Sunday’s game due to tightness in his back, though he was available off of the bench.

He’s legitimately been the best player off the bench, so it’s a pretty serious loss should he be down for any length of time.

—–

Scott Van Slyke hit the 15-day DL with left shoulder bursitis.

—–

J.R. Towles underwent hand surgery, per Mike Petriello and Mrs. Towles.

Didn’t take him long to become a True Dodger.

In addition to Towles, Javy Guerra and Chris O’Brien hit the DL in the minors.

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Greg Zakwin is the founder of the site Plaschke Thy Sweater Is Argyle. Follow him on Twitter @ArgyledPlaschke and find him contributing at Yahoo! Sports.

Suspensions came down from the league following Tuesday’s brawl with the Diamondbacks.

Ian Kennedy was suspended 10 games “for intentionally throwing a pitch in the head area of Zack Greinke of the Dodgers in the bottom of the seventh inning, after a warning had already been issued to both Clubs earlier in the game.”

Eric Hinske was suspended five games for leaving the dugout and for “his aggressive actions,” which included hitting/slapping Yasiel Puig in the face.

J.P. Howell and Skip Schumaker were each suspended for two games for “aggressive actions.”

Ronald Belisario was suspended one game for “aggressive actions.”

Hitting coach Mark McGwire was suspended two games “for his conduct during the incidents.”

Both managers, Don Mattingly and Kirk Gibson, were suspended for one game; Mattingly “for the actions of his club and his conduct during the incidents” and Gibson for “the intentional actions of Kennedy after a warning had been issued.”

Fines, but no suspensions, were also handed out to Zack Greinke, Puig, Miguel Montero and Gerardo Parra.

Both managers will serve their one-game suspensions on Friday night. McGwire will serve his suspension Friday and Saturday in Pittsburgh.

The Dodgers were also fined for having players on the disabled list (namely, Chris Capuano and Josh Beckett) leave the dugout during the fracas. As an additional punishment, no Dodger on the disabled list will be allowed to sit in the dugout all weekend during their series at PNC Park.

The Dodgers got off lightly when all was said and done in regards to games that will be missed.

—–

A.J. Ellis was activated from the 15-day DL. In a corresponding roster move, Ramon Hernandez was designated for assignment.

L.A. then addressed the lack of catching depth in the system by claiming John Baker, formerly of the Padres, from waivers.

The Dodgers addressed their lack of catching depth on Saturday, claiming backstop John Baker on waivers from the Padres. The Dodgers optioned the 32-year-old catcher to Triple-A Albuquerque.

Baker hit .150/.261/.150 (6-for-40) in 16 games for the Padres this season, and was designated for assignment on Monday. In parts of six seasons with the Marlins and Padres, Baker is a career .258/.342/.364 hitter.

Baker was also on the field during the Dodgers’ brawl with the Padres on Apr. 11, and was originally thought to be the San Diego player mocking that Zack Greinke broke his collarbone that set Jerry Hairston off. Though Baker vehemently denied any such role, and was one of the one who helped pull Greinke off the pile.

Baker is making $930,000 this season, so with 107 days remaining in the 183-day season the Dodgers are on the hook for approximately $543,770.

Well … that would make for an interesting clubhouse, no?

Baker will head to AAA and be available should an injury occur to A.J. or Tim Federowicz. I’d be shocked if the Dodgers went with three catchers again outside of perhaps the odd series here or there with an American League team.

—–

The Dodgers signed 2013 draft picks Chris Anderson (1), Tom Windle (2), Cody Bellinger (4), Jacob Rhame (6), Henry Yates (9), Adam Law (12), and Thomas Taylor (26), as detailed by Chad.

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Greg Zakwin is the founder of the site Plaschke Thy Sweater Is Argyle. Follow him on Twitter @ArgyledPlaschke and find him contributing at Yahoo! Sports.

Don Mattingly has named Kenley Jansen closer following Brandon League being Brandon League and imploding in a save situation yet again.

When asked how he would get the ball to Jansen, Donnie Baseball said something you’d prefer your manager to not say publicly:

With Jansen closing, how will Dodgers get the ball to the 9th inning? Mattingly: “That’s a great question.”

Jansen is obviously the better pitcher, but what’s most important is not simply removing League from “save situations”, as a game could need saving in the 6th, 7th, or 8th inning.

What Don needs to do is not put League in high leverage situations, at least in the interim, wherever and whenever they present themselves.

—–

Scott Van Slyke hit the 15-day DL with shoulder bursitis. Alex Castellanos was recalled to take his place.

Van Slyke originally injured himself on May 25th trying to make a diving grab. He’s the 15th different Dodger to land on the disabled list in 2013, and many of those fifteen have made multiple trips.

—–

Ted Lilly hit the DL yet again, and Matt Magill was recalled yet again to take his place in the rotation.

The Dodgers on Sunday made official what was reported on Saturday, that Ted Lilly was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a neck sprain and Matt Magill was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque to start the series finale against the Braves at Dodger Stadium.

Magill was then sent back to AAA as Justin Sellers was called up.

Sellers was then sent down, with Chris Withrow being recalled from AAA.

Hopefully Withrow finds success quickly in the bigs, as it would give Mattingly a late-inning option other than League and not named Jansen or Paco Rodriguez.

—–

Two minor-league promotions, as Duke Von Schamann heads from High-A to AA Chattanooga, and Rob Rasmussen gets the call to AAA.

Duke might have the greatest name ever.

—–

Two minor-leaguers were released, with Alfredo Amezaga being the only noteworthy one of the pair.

Released: RHP Travis Jones, SS Alfredo Amezaga

For better or worse, he was never a real threat to make the club at any point.

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Greg Zakwin is the founder of the site Plaschke Thy Sweater Is Argyle. Follow him on Twitter @ArgyledPlaschke and find him contributing at Yahoo! Sports.

Matt Kemp suffered a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury. The extent of the setback and how long it will keep Kemp out is not yet known.

Sunday is not good day for hamstrings at Dodger Stadium. Matt Kemp, in his first day back in Los Angeles after rehabbing for a week at Camelback Ranch in Arizona, suffered a setback while running and will not be ready to be activated from the disabled list on Friday, as originally planned.

“We’ve hit a little bit of a snag because he felt just a little something today still. We haven’t quite made a decision on where he’s going next. The running today was to see where he’s at,” manager Don Mattingly said on Sunday. “That tells us today he’s not quite there. Does that mean two days, three days, seven days? I don’t know that answer, but I do know he’s not 100%. Until we get that, then we’ll start thinking about him going out and playing.”

Yet more bad luck in what has been a lost season thus far for The Bison.

Kemp ran and was doing stretching drills with strength and conditioning coach Brandon McDaniel before Sunday’s game with the Braves, all with trainer Sue Falsone, director of medical services Stan Conte, and team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache. Kemp did work in the outfield and on the bases, and appeared to be in a good mood in the clubhouse, hugging teammates upon his return.

“It’s always good to have Matt around. It would be really nice if he’s out in the field. It’s good to see him back,” Mattingly said. “He looks good, he’s running pretty good. He’s not quite there yet, talking to medical. We’re still not where we need to be.”

Kemp could have potentially returned this Friday from his 15-day DL stint, but they’re now saying he’s looking at a timetable of next week, but that’s contingent on him passing similar tests and going on a rehab assignment.

—–

Carl Crawford had an MRI on his hamstring injury, and swelling was discovered. He’ll miss more than the minimum on his disabled list stay.

As for Crawford, the Dodgers expect him to miss more than the minimum 15 days on the disabled list after an MRI exam on his strained left hamstring revealed swelling.

“That tells us it was fairly significant,” Mattingly said. “It doesn’t sound like two weeks.”

Crawford was placed on the disabled list on Monday, retroactive to June 2. But the Dodgers aren’t sure he will be back this month.

So yeah, that roster crunch everybody is worried about probably isn’t coming soon.

—–

Hanley Ramirez re-injured his hamstring injury late last week and has been out of the lineup since, though he has been pinch-hitting the last handful of games.

The Dodgers are without Hanley Ramirez for a second straight game against the Braves at Dodger Stadium, only Friday night isn’t a scheduled day of rest. Ramirez has tightness in his left hamstring, the same one that landed him on the disabled list for a month with a strain, per Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.

Ken Gurnick reports HanRam also felt stiffness behind his knee, and Don Mattingly fears a DL stint could be necessary, though trainers disagree.

Hanley underwent an MRI Sunday, and the results were probably about as good as can be expected.

“He’s having continued problems enough that they want to get another look at this thing,” said manager Don Mattingly. “We’ll find out if it’s going to be more serious than we’ve been talking about.”

His current status, well before the MRI results are known, is that he hit but can’t run. Mattingly used pitcher Clayton Kershaw to pinch run for Ramirez after he singled in the eighth inning Saturday.

“Guys want to play, but when they can’t run it’s hard to play,” Mattingly said. “Especially with playing short.”

Dodgers will go a man short for the next week, then he’ll aggravate it somehow after pinch hitting and he’ll be put on the DL. Probably.

—–

Josh Beckett has been shut down for four weeks as he attempts to return from nerve irritation and numbness in his right hand and arm.

Dodgers pitcher Josh Beckett will be shut down from throwing for four weeks because of nerve irritation in his right arm and hand, the team announced on Tuesday. Beckett, who saw a nerve specialist in Dallas who confirmed the initial diagnosis, is expected to return to the team on Tuesday.

Manager Don Mattingly said earlier Tuesday that Beckett’s condition wouldn’t require surgery, that rehab would be the route taken by the right-hander. Beckett will continue that rehab on Tuesday.

But with four weeks without throwing, it could be at least two months before he could realistically return to actually pitch for the Dodgers.

The Dodgers and Beckett have chosen rehab over surgery.

—–

Scott Elbert will undergo Tommy John surgery and is done for this year and much of next.

Dodgers relief pitcher Scott Elbert’s 2013 season is over before it ever began. The left-hander needs Tommy John surgery and is out for the season, and with an expected recovery of 12-16 months his 2014 campaign is in question as well.

Elbert was diagnosed with a complete tear of his ulnar collateral ligament after meeting with Dr. Neal ElAttrache and having an MRI exam on Tuesday.

Unfortunately, he just couldn’t stay healthy. Strong non-tender candidate after the season.

—–

Ted Lilly was scratched from his last start due to a “chronic neck disc issue” and hit the DL Sunday.

Dodgers left-hander Ted Lilly will be scratched from Sunday’s start against the Braves because of a chronic neck disc issue. He most likely will be replaced by Triple-A Albuquerque’s Matt Magill, although the club has not made any announcement.

Chronic and neck are never two words you want to hear in tandem.

—–

Scott Van Slyke has been playing with neck and shoulder discomfort … because of course.

Van Slyke has been playing through worsening discomfort that originated from an attempted diving catch of Yadier Molina’s double on May 25. At the time, Van Slyke described the injury as similar to whiplash.

He pinch-ran yesterday, though.

—–

A number of minor-leaguers were placed on and activated from the 7-day DL, with the most notable name being top prospect Corey Seager.

Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Angel Castro, RHP Luis Vasquez, 1B Paul Hoenecke, OF Ryan Mount
Reinstated from DL: RHP Kyle Cofield, RHP Matt Shelton, RHP Sean White, LHP Onelki Garcia, 2B Pedro Guerrero, SS Corey Seager, OF Joey Winker

Seager came back and hit a homer, so everything seems good on that front. The injury won’t be a concern to his long-term prospects.

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Greg Zakwin is the founder of the site Plaschke Thy Sweater Is Argyle. Follow him on Twitter @ArgyledPlaschke and find him contributing at Yahoo! Sports.

Hanley Ramirez returned from the DL Tuesday, with Chris Capuano being placed on the 15-day disabled list in a corresponding move. Ramirez completed a rehab assignment that saw him play three games to complete his recovery from a hamstring injury.

Ramirez, who hasn’t played since suffering the injury on May 3rd, appeared in a pair of games for the Quakes over the weekend. Monday’s appearance in Rancho made it the shortstop’s third rehab appearance with the Dodgers’ affiliate, and you could tell.

Ramirez will provide a much-needed offensive boost to the club, especially considering the state of the left side of the infield.

Capuano’s injury is a strain of his left triceps muscle.

Capuano has a strain of the triceps muscle in his pitching arm. He said he suffered it during Wednesday night’s start as he tried to brace himself as he fell off the mound after reaching for a grounder. The arm tightened up a few pitches later, and he was removed after 5 1/3 innings.

“It’s not debilitating and it’s hard to say whether it would tighten out there. But we want to make sure,” he said. “I’d like to be able to say I’m 100 percent certain there won’t be a problem. The last thing I want is to put the team in position of using the bullpen, not without an off-day coming up. I don’t feel it’s serious, maybe only a couple of days.

“As a player, I want to be out there. But I don’t want to put the team in a bad spot. It’s a very, very hard line to walk, to know when you can push through or when you’re hurting the team by trying. It’s a tough spot that you hate to be in as a player.”

Sounds like this would be the minimum, but who knows?

—–

Hyun Jin Ryu was scratched from his last start due to a foot injury.

Left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu tested his sore left foot in a rare bullpen session on Monday and the Dodgers expect him to start on Friday.

Ryu threw about 25 pitches during a light bullpen session and said his foot was progressing.

“It’s a lot better today,” Ryu said through interpreter Martin Kim. “I’m pretty confident I should make my next start.”

The Dodgers expect Ryu to take the mound on Friday against the Braves at Dodger Stadium.

It’s a relief the team didn’t let him pitch through it, considering their history of mishandling injuries.

In particular, Ryu’s stance on the matter is quite refreshing from a pro athlete.

In addition Ryu told reporters after the game, “Personally, I never want to take the mound and put my team in jeopardy. … I wouldn’t want to step out there unless I’m 100 percent,” per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.

Bravo, Ryu. Bravo.

He’s set for Friday’s start, presumably at 100%.

—–

Scott Elbert, on the mend from an elbow injury, felt pain in his left elbow and has been shut down. He now has a trip to team doctor Neal ElAttrache on the horizon.

Scott Elbert’s comeback to the Dodgers hit a snag and the left-handed reliever’s season could be in jeopardy. The Dodgers have shut down Elbert after he experienced elbow pain, and the left-hander will visit Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Tuesday.

Elbert was making progress in returning to the Dodgers in May. After roughly six weeks in extended spring training, he began a minor league rehab assignment on May 10 and pitched a total of eight games over 17 days between Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Chattanooga.

“Scotty has been shut down. For how long I don’t know,” manager Don Mattingly said. “But we tried those two in a row, after that he hasn’t gone anywhere.”

Had Elbert returned, he would have given a nice boost to the pen. It could be his third surgery and fourth time with a major arm issue, so hopefully it’s not the end of his career or anything like that, a la Hong Chih Kuo.

—–

A.J. Ellis hit the DL due to an oblique injury.

To make room for Magill, starting catcher A.J. Ellis was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left oblique. Ellis, in a 2-for-19 slump over his last seven games, missed the last three games with the injury. Ellis is tied for eighth in MLB with 41 starts at catcher and his ninth with 364 innings behind the plate. In 2012 he finished fourth in both categories.

A starting battery of Ramon Hernandez and Tim Federowicz is wholly unappealing, particularly since Hernandez will likely see the bulk of the time behind the dish.

—–

Carl Crawford hit the DL with a hamstring injury.

When it rains it pours for the Dodgers. Carl Crawford left Saturday’s game with a left leg injury in the third inning against the Rockies at Coors Field.

Crawford hit a double to left field, his second two-bagger of the day in the third inning, but pulled up when running to second while grabbing his left leg. After meeting with trainers Crawford exited the game. The Dodgers later confirmed Crawford suffered a left hamstring cramp.

General manager Ned Colletti, on the Prime Ticket broadcast, said the injury looked like more of a cramp than a strain, and compared it to earlier in the season, when Crawford missed two games with a tight right hamstring. Colletti stressed he would know more after the game.

It has been a painful week for Crawford, who tweaked his back making a diving catch on Thursday in Anaheim then was held out of Friday’s lineup with soreness. Though Crawford did eventually make an appearance as a pinch runner on Friday.

It’s an epidemic at this point.

—–

Minor-league injury news is here, with the name of interest being righty Ralston Cash.

Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Ralston Cash, RHP Kyle Cofield
Reinstated from DL: RHP Gustavo Gomez, C Eric Smith

Cash’s career has been injury-plagued up until this point, so hopefully this isn’t a recurrence of all that.

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Greg Zakwin is the founder of the site Plaschke Thy Sweater Is Argyle. Follow him on Twitter @ArgyledPlaschke.

It has finally happened. The Yasiel Puig Era has begun.

The Dodgers return home for a 10-game homestand on Monday, and will do so with the most exciting of reinforcements. Yasiel Puig has been recalled by the Dodgers from Double-A Chattanooga and will join the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Monday, the team announced after their loss to the Rockies.

Matt Magill, who had an historically bad performance in the loss to Colorado, was optioned back to Triple-A Albuquerque, roughly six hours after he was recalled to make a spot start.

There will be ups and downs but the potential is certainly there, especially if he’s not asked to play much center. He’s somehow already a better option there than Andre Ethier, though, and I’m not even sure Puig could handle center.

—–

Peter Moylan was recalled from AAA, with Javy Guerra taking his place in Albuquerque.

The Dodgers on Friday made a roster move to keep some bullpen depth, as they selected the contract of Peter Moylan from Triple-A Albuquerque, and optioned Javy Guerra back to the Isotopes.

Moylan signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers on Jan. 15, and had an out clause in his contract that would have allowed him to become a free agent if not added to the roster by Saturday.

Moylan has been quite effective in Triple-A Albuquerque this season, at 2-1 with a 3.52 ERA, two saves, 24 strikeouts and eight unintentional walks in 23. innings in the hitter friendly Pacific Coast League.

For Guerra, it was a lesson in the negatives of having options remaining. Probably the right move considering the state of the pen.

—–

A.J. Ellis hit the DL with a strained left oblique, and Matt Magill was temporarily recalled to make a spot start.

Carl Crawford hit the disabled list due to a strained left hamstring. Stephen Fife was recalled to make a spot start.

Tim Federowicz got the call from AAA after Matt Kemp also hit the 15-day DL with a hamstring problem. Without Kemp, the Dodgers’ lack of center field depth is startling.

—–

Two Dodger minor-leaguers that were released, Ryan Acosta and C.J. Retherford, tested positive for illegal substances.

A pair of minor leaguers released by the Dodgers this week won’t be playing for another organization anytime soon. Relief pitcher Ryan Acosta and infielder C.J. Retherford were both suspended 50 games on Friday for violating the minor league drug prevention and treatment program.

Both Acosta and Retherford tested positive for an amphetamine. The Dodgers declined comment on the suspensions.

Both were non-factors in the system.

—–

The Dodgers signed former Astros backstop J.R. Towles to a minor-league deal. It’s a testament to the lack of catching depth more than anything.

Besides that signing, a handful of releases comprised of the minor-league moves for the week.

Released: RHP Aris Angeles, RHP Ricardo de la Rosa, RHP Samuel Taveras, C Jesus Flores, 3B Jeff Hunt, SS Justin Boudreaux

Jesus Flores is the only relevant name there. Hence the Towles signing.

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Greg Zakwin is the founder of the site Plaschke Thy Sweater Is Argyle. Follow him on Twitter @ArgyledPlaschke.

It’s been a tough week for Matt Kemp, injury-wise. First, he was hit on the right elbow by a pitch and had to be removed later in that game due to numbness.

For the second time in four days, Matt Kemp was replaced by Skip Schumaker in center field during the game. But on Tuesday against the Angels, the ninth inning move happened because Kemp felt numbness after he was hit by a pitch on his right elbow in the second inning.

“He came to me in like the seventh. He got hit on the elbow. Something was going on with his fingers, and he didn’t feel like he could throw,” manager Don Mattingly said. “He basically said, ‘I don’t want to screw this up. I can’t really throw the ball, but I feel good swinging.’”

Both Mattingly and Kemp downplayed the injury. Mattingly said he expects Kemp to play on Wednesday and didn’t expect Kemp to need an MRI, saying, “I hope it’s nothing that gets to that.”

Kemp reported that he couldn’t grip the ball and throw it, which is quite scary.

He did return later in the week, only to suffer a mild strain of his hamstring and leave that game early. It was the opposite hamstring that he injured last season, and Kemp underwent an MRI on Thursday.

Following the MRI, the Dodgers did the smart thing and decided to play it safe by placing Kemp on the 15-day DL.

Fortunately though, it does seem like he’s looking at the minimum time.

“We feel he’s going to be ready in close to two weeks,” Mattingly said of Kemp, who missed two months last year with a hamstring strain on his other leg.

Unlike what some are saying, I doubt playing a week or so of rehab games is going to fix his mechanics, but he does get a mental break.

—–

Hanley Ramirez‘s rehab assignment was pushed back to Friday, as he looks to return from a hamstring injury.

Ramirez, on the disabled list due to a strained left hamstring, will join the Quakes on Friday for the second game of a four-game series at Bakersfield.

Ramirez hoped to begin his rehab on Thursday, but the Dodgers pushed it back to Friday following his workout at Angel Stadium on Wednesday, though the club said he did not suffer a setback.

Ramirez tweeted: “All is well, but I’ll be in Bakersfield on Friday. We decided to push it back one more day #dodgerblue #cantwait.”

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Ramirez needs to play around four rehab games, which would put him on track to be activated during a three-game series against the Padres at Dodger Stadium that begins on Monday.

“I’ve got to test [the hamstring] out and see how it feels,” Ramirez said Wednesday before the Dodgers’ game against the Angels.

He played in the game, seemingly without issue, but he wants to see how he recovers the day after.

“I’m tired but I feel good,” Ramirez said. “There wasn’t any pain or nothing like that. I couldn’t get on base but let’s see tomorrow.”

Besides the injury, I wonder if all this time off will affect his performance at the plate any. It’s been months since he’s gotten regular at-bats against quality pitching.

—–

Josh Beckett is scheduled to see a nerve specialist on Monday.

Injured Dodgers pitcher Josh Beckett will see a nerve specialist on Monday, the next step in determining the cause of the numbing sensation in his fingers.

Beckett is scheduled to visit Dr. Gregory Pearl in Dallas, Texas, the same surgeon who operated on Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter’s right shoulder last season.

Beckett, on the disabled list with a left groin strain, had his throwing program shut down last week after the numbness in his fingers continued during a bullpen session.

“The frustrating thing that I’m having right now is I don’t have pain, I just have ineffectiveness and numbness where I can’t actually feel the baseball,” Beckett said on Thursday.

Beckett is 0-5 with a 5.19 ERA in eight starts this season. He said he continued to pitch despite the lingering issue because the Dodgers were short on starters earlier in the season after losing Chad Billingsley for the year and dealing with Zack Greinke’s broken left collarbone.

“It’s something I’ve been dealing with,” Beckett said of the numbness in his right fingers. “I’m not sure exactly when it came on. It wasn’t painful. At the time we were losing starters left and right, so I felt like I needed to pitch because I didn’t have any pain.”

Once again, pitching or playing hurt to help the team is admirable in theory, but costly in reality on so many levels.

Beckett fears he may have to retire due to the continued numbness in his fingers.

“Any time something like that happens to your arm or you start losing feeling and stuff . . . you think about [retirement] for sure,” Beckett, who is on the disabled list after four to five weeks of numbness in the fingers on his right hand, told the Times. “I don’t really want to think like that right now. I want to think about figuring out a way to deal with this.”

Scary, scary stuff.

Would be a rather sad ending to his career, but I hope he was just in the moment.

—–

A.J. Ellis, following a tough week of his own, is now dealing with an oblique injury.

Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis is dealing with an issue in his left oblique, manager Don Mattingly said on Thursday.

Ellis was held out of the lineup for Thursday’s Freeway Series finale against the Angels.

“We feel like it’s a day or two days,” Mattingly said on Thursday afternoon. “We’ll see how that goes.”

Could Ellis require a stint on the disabled list?

“If this thing would go the wrong direction, it would be [a DL situation],” Mattingly said.

Oblique issues are always worrisome because they’re unpredictable and generally take time to heal. A.J. being okay is more important than it should be, as his backups are Ramon Hernandez and Tim Federowicz.

—–

Hyun Jin Ryu had x-rays on his left foot, which came back negative.

The Dodgers expect left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu to make his scheduled start on Sunday after taking a line drive off the top of his left foot during his shutout of the Angels on Tuesday.

X-rays on Ryu’s left foot were negative. He had his foot in a bucket of ice Wednesday afternoon in the visiting clubhouse at Angel Stadium.

“Obviously he’s a little bit sore,” manager Don Mattingly said before Wednesday’s game against the Angels. “I think he’s going to be fine. We expect him to be ready by his next start [on Sunday in Colorado].”

It’s honestly getting to the point now where anytime there’s any type of physical collision, we expect the 60-day DL.

—–

Nick Punto suffered a bone bruise in his back after falling awkwardly near second base on a play in the field.

It seems fitting that in a year when the Dodgers have suffered so many injuries, two innings after they optioned Dee Gordon to Triple-A Albuquerque their depth at shortstop became immediately tested. Nick Punto collided with a sliding Erick Aybar for the final out of the second inning in the Dodgers’ 8-7 win over the Angels on Monday, and landed squarely on his back.

Punto suffered a bone bruise in his back, though it’s not something he considers serious.

“As the game was going on it felt alright. As long I kemp moving, it felt okay. We’ll just see how it feels,” Punto said. “I’m sure it’s just a bruise, but we’ll see.”

Punto remained in the game until after the fifth inning, when he was double-switched out of the game.

“It was just getting stiffer and stiffer as the game went on,” manager Don Mattingly said of Punto’s back.

He’s actually been solid filling in this season, so any long-term issue here would hurt the club, although he’s not going to keep hitting at the level he has thus far, unless you expect a .402 BABIP to stick with him.

—–

Jerry Hairston Jr. was activated from the DL, while Scott Elbert was retroactively moved to the 60-day DL as he continues to rehab and work his way back.

—–

Stephen Fife threw a simulated game and is scheduled to throw another as he works his way back from right shoulder bursitis.

Stephen Fife has had a slow recovery from right shoulder bursitis, but was able to throw one simulated game already. Mattingly said Fife will throw another simulated game of approximately 70 pitches at some point this week. Fife last pitched for the Dodgers on Apr. 21.

Should be interesting to see whether it’s him or Matt Magill that gets the first call should a pitcher go down. Either way, better to have both than one or the other.

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Greg Zakwin is the founder of the site Plaschke Thy Sweater Is Argyle. Follow him on Twitter @ArgyledPlaschke.

Jerry Hairston Jr. was activated from the DL, and Dee Gordon was sent to AAA in a corresponding move in order to clear a 25-man roster spot.

The Dodgers on Monday activated Jerry Hairston before their game with the Angels, and to make room on the roster optioned shortstop Dee Gordon to Triple-A Albuquerque. Hairston, who has been sidelined since May 5 with injuries to his left groin and left knee, is in the lineup for the Dodgers on Monday, playing left field and batting seventh.

Nick Punto will play the bulk of the time at shortstop until Hanley Ramirez returns from the disabled list, with the other starts going to Luis Cruz. Manager Don Mattingly said Ramirez could begin a rehab assignment over the weekend, which puts him in line for a return early on the next homestand, about a week away.

Luis Cruz gets yet another reprieve.

How many lives does he have?

—–

Former first-round pick Aaron Miller has been converted from the mound to the outfield and sent down from AA to A-ball to begin the transition.

The Dodgers have decided to switch things up with former supplemental first round pick Aaron Miller. The left-handed pitcher has been demoted from Double-A Chattanooga to Class-A Great Lakes, and will switch to the outfield.

“This was something the organization has been talking about for close to a year. His velocity had dropped and he’s had some nagging injuries,” said Dodgers head of player development De Jon Watson. “He was a two-way player coming out of Baylor when we drafted him and we liked what we saw in his bat when he pitched.”

Miller hit .310/.415/.568 with 12 home runs, 47 RBI, 50 strikeouts, and 25 walks in 56 games in his junior season in 2009. The Dodgers drafted Miller 36th overall in the 2009 draft, and head of scouting Logan White at the time called Miller a pitcher in the Erik Bedard mold.

“We felt this was the right time to make the switch given his age and his desire to continue pursuing his big league dream and help this organization,” Watson said.

If it keeps him in the system, why not, as he wasn’t making progress as a pitcher.

It’s unlikely he’ll hit half as well as he did in college, but stranger things have happened, and there’s always the possibility he could be the next Rick Ankiel.

—–

Angelo Songco has been promoted to Double-A, as reported by our own Dustin Nosler.

If you recall, Songco’s prospect star was rising before he needed a rod inserted into his leg and missed a few months. Always a long road back.

—–

Wasn’t much going on with minor-league moves this week. Probably for the better.

Signed: LHP Jonathan Sanchez (released by Pirates, May 8)
Released: 2B Omar Luna

The name of note is, of course, Jonathan Sanchez, the one-time Giant. I touched on his signing in a previous Making Moves.

=====

Greg Zakwin is the founder of the site Plaschke Thy Sweater Is Argyle. Follow him on Twitter @ArgyledPlaschke.

Hanley Ramirez continues to work his way back from his hamstring injury and has begun to increase his running.

Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez took another step in his recovery from a strained left hamstring on Friday, but the club is playing it safe, not trying to rush his return to action. Ramirez took batting practice before the Dodgers played the Cardinals on Friday night, something he also did on the previous road trip. But what Ramirez added was running in curves, something he hasn’t done since injuring his hamstring on May 3.

Ramirez said on Friday that he has been running only in straight lines at about 80-85% effort, and that he was anxious to return.

“I’ve been trying to come back,” Ramirez said with a wide grin. “They won’t let me.”

“Hanley is doing better. He’s still not there yet. We’re a ways away. He’s doing a lot of baseball stuff. I don’t think he’s quite as close as it seems,” Mattingly said. “It’s a little bit like Mark Ellis, where you feel like it might be ready to go, but it will be seven days before that thing is 100%.”

HamRam has also been seeking advice from Matt Kemp on the recovery from such an injury.

Ramirez agreed, and sought the advice of Matt Kemp, who missed 51 out of 53 games in 2012 with a pair of left hamstring strains, including missing six weeks after coming back early from the first injury.

“It’s why we’ve got to be careful. It’s only been three weeks. You have to be 100%. It can go at any time,” Ramirez said. “I don’t want to come back early and be back on the DL for two months.”

Probably looking at mid-June, at least.

His return can’t come soon enough, though. Seriously.

—–

The Dodgers have cleared Kemp to up his workout regimen in the weight room, which sort of answers the questions about why his strength is down and why he came into camp lighter.

At the core of his problems are his mechanics, and they are the larger issue here.

—–

A.J. Ellis had a rough week filled with bumps and bruises, but fortunately he seems okay. A regular rest would be good for him, but it’s hard when the other option is Ramon Hernandez.

—–

Scott Van Slyke injured his neck Saturday trying to make a diving catch, but it doesn’t appear to be serious. However, it has affected the return date of Jerry Hairston Jr.

—–

The aforementioned Hairston went on a rehab assignment to work his way back from a groin ailment.

Jerry Hairston will begin a minor league rehab assignment on Friday night for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga, and will play at least two games with the Quakes. The utility man was placed on the 15-day disabled list on May 7 with a left groin strain, then during rehab also hurt his left knee.

“Jerry is playing six tonight, six tomorrow,” manager Don Mattingly said. “Then we’ll see where he’s at after that.”

He recently completed that rehab assignment and is in Los Angeles, but like I said, the team is waiting on activating him.

—–

Scott Elbert continues to rehab and is close to returning.

Dodgers pitcher Scott Elbert has been on a minor league rehabilitation assignment for two weeks while recovering from a pair of offseason shoulder surgeries, but the left-handed pitcher is closer to rejoining the Dodgers. Elbert will pitch on Saturday and Sunday for Double-A Chattanooga, his first back-to-back outings of the rehab assignment.

“We’re just talking about probably one hitter (each game), just enough to get him up and get loose, get him into a game, and see if he can bounce back from that,” said manager Don Mattingly.

Getting another reliever back would indeed be a relief.

—–

Minor-league injury news is fortunately rather brief this week.

Placed on 7-day DL: C Eric Smith
Reinstated from DL: 1B Paul Hoenecke, 2B Malcolm Holland

Nobody of particular note, as far as relevant prospects go.

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Greg Zakwin is the founder of the site Plaschke Thy Sweater Is Argyle. Follow him on Twitter @ArgyledPlaschke.

Hanley Ramirez‘s rehab is going well, but the team isn’t keen on rushing him, so he’s still two weeks away.

Hanley Ramirez tested his hamstring running in the outfield, and Mattingly said the shortstop continues to make progress, although he is still probably two weeks away from playing.

As was the case the first time he came back from injury, given what the Dodgers have been running out on the left side of the infield, his return could have the biggest impact on the team to date.

—–

Scott Elbert continued his rehab assignment at High-A Rancho Cucamonga…

Dodgers reliever Scott Elbert pitched a scoreless sixth inning with the Quakes, allowing one hit and walking one. The left-hander has tossed three scoreless innings since beginning his rehab assignment on Friday. He’s working his way back from a pair of elbow operations during the winter.

…then made an appearance at Double-A Chattanooga on Saturday.

Elbert started and threw 13 pitches after already making three relief appearances with Class A Rancho Cucamonga. He allowed a single and RBI double to the first two batters he faced, then retired the next three hitters.

Elbert could be back to help the bullpen later this week, as his velocity his risen in recent appearances.

At the start of the season, he seemed like a luxury due to J.P. Howell and Paco Rodriguez, but now the bullpen could desperately use another quality arm.

—–

Zack Greinke was activated from the DL ahead of schedule and made a very good return to action.

In a corresponding move, Josh Beckett hit the 15-day DL following speculation that he was hurt and would need time to heal.

The Los Angeles Dodgers seemed to have a hard time getting the story straight after Monday’s 6-2 loss to the Washington Nationals. Josh Beckett, who is 0-5 with a 5.19 ERA, left the game after just three innings in part, manager Don Mattingly said, because he slightly strained a groin muscle covering first base on an Adam LaRoche groundout.

Beckett is also battling an assortment of minor injuries, Mattingly said. But what?

“He’s had some little stuff going on in different areas, and I think it was bothering him tonight,” Mattingly said.

Little stuff, such as?

“We had known some little stuff was going on,” Mattingly said.

I don’t know how they treat things here,” he [Beckett] said.

He also said, “I’m healthy enough to pitch,” which might be a regrettable phrase if the Dodgers, indeed, put Beckett on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday. The timing would be opportune as it appears Zack Greinke will come off the DL to pitch against Washington Wednesday night. Mattingly wouldn’t confirm that Greinke will pitch Wednesday, but said they’ve settled on a starter.

Either that’s a phantom DL or there’s a scary disconnect between the player and the training staff here.

—–

Ted Lilly claims he’s healthy and ready to get back to major-league action.

Dodgers left-hander Ted Lilly declared himself healthy after going five innings during a Minor League rehab start with Class A Rancho Cucamonga on Wednesday night.

Lilly allowed four runs on five hits, striking out three against three walks as the Quakes lost to the San Jose Giants, 4-3.

The veteran said he felt no discomfort from a strained right rib cage that forced him to the disabled list May 3. He was in the Dodgers’ clubhouse after their 3-1 win over the Nationals and will travel with the club to Atlanta for a three-game series that begins Friday.

Lilly said he does not expect to make another start in the Minors, though he said he hasn’t spoken to management about the next step in his rehab.

Just because he might be healthy doesn’t mean he’ll be productive, but he was activated from the DL on Monday anyway, and he will start for the team on Saturday.

—–

Scott Van Slyke had x-rays on his left leg after fouling back-to-back pitches off said leg.

X-rays were negative on the lower left leg of Dodgers outfielder Scott Van Slyke, who exited Sunday’s 5-2 loss against the Braves after he fouled consecutive pitches off his leg in a seventh-inning at-bat.

Van Slyke said there was no fracture, although it was “pretty sore” having fouled the pitches “an inch apart on the same ligament.”

He said he’ll be able to return to action immediately, as long as he can tolerate the discomfort.

“I should be good,” he said.

Last thing the team needed was the only bench bat with pop going down.

—–

Luis Cruz is apparently dealing with bone spurs in his throwing elbow now, which Chad brought up as potentially foreshadowing a phantom DL case.

—–

Mark Ellis was activated from the DL, saying his rehab was over and he’s ready to go.

—–

Corey Seager has been placed on the minor-league 7-day DL with a hamstring injury.

The 18th pick in last year’s draft, Corey Seager will take a break from his full-season debut as he rehabs a hamstring injury. He hit .267/.333/.410 with three homers in 29 games for low Class A Great Lakes, giving him a .743 OPS that is comfortably above the Midwest League average.

While Seager hasn’t been tearing it up like he did last year, he’s been better than league average and is still extremely young for pro ball.

—–

Minor-league injury news includes one important return.

Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Jonathan Martinez, RHP Sean White, LHP Jake Hermsen, C John Cannon, 1B Paul Hoenecke
Reinstated from DL: RHP Jon Michael Redding, C Webster Rivas, 2B Elevys Gonzalez, OF Alex Castellanos, OF Jeremy Moore, OF Devin Shines

Alex Castellanos is now back in the mix.

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Greg Zakwin is the founder of the site Plaschke Thy Sweater Is Argyle. Follow him on Twitter @ArgyledPlaschke and find him contributing at Yahoo! Sports.

The Dodgers signed former Giants and Royals lefty Jonathan Sanchez to a minor-league deal, sending him to the Albuquerque Isotopes.

2:17pm: The Dodgers will sign Jonathan Sanchez to a minor league deal, according to Pedro Gomez of ESPN (on Twitter). The contract is pending a physical, and Sanchez is likely to report to Triple-A Albquerque. Sanchez is represented by the McNamara Baseball Group.

4:00pm: Sanchez has a July 1 opt-out date if he’s not on the Major League roster, according to Chris Cotillo of CLNS Radio (on Twitter). Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles confirms the report (Twitter link).

Eric Stephen has more.

On the surface, this seems like a lottery ticket move by the Dodgers, looking to recapture some of the magic of the pitcher who threw a no-hitter and struck out over a batter per inning in six years with the Giants. Sanchez has been an absolute mess the past two seasons, as he is 0-12 in his last 18 starts with a 9.13 ERA, 58 walks, and 52 strikeouts in 71 innings. Sanchez was 0-3 with an 11.85 ERA in five appearances with the Pirates this season before his release on May 8.

Ned Colletti has always enjoyed picking pitchers up from the scrap heap, though it has almost always been relievers. Sanchez was a Giant though, so that hasn’t changed.

—–

Zack Greinke was activated from the DL on the May 15, with Josh Beckett being placed on the disabled list in a corresponding move.

The Dodgers activated Zack Greinke from the disabled list on Wednesday to start against the Nationals, but another starting pitcher took his place on the shelf. Josh Beckett was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left groin strain to make room for Greinke, and becomes the sixth Dodgers starting pitcher to hit the disabled list this season.

The team is finally getting healthy, so a more accurate picture of the squad can begin to be gleaned as we move forward.

—–

Ted Lilly came off of the DL on Monday as well, with Matt Magill heading to AAA to open up a spot on the 25-man roster.

The Dodgers on Monday before their game against the Brewers activated Ted Lilly from the disabled list and, as expected, optioned Matt Magill to Triple-A Albuquerque. The next question is whether or not the Dodgers use Thursday’s off day to skip that spot in the rotation for now.

Lilly’s long-term role has yet to be determined. He’s starting Saturday and will likely get at least a couple of turns in the rotation before Beckett returns.

A couple of good starts and perhaps the Dodgers can deal him. Or at least Ned would trade for him. Too bad he’s the GM of the Dodgers.

—–

Juan Noriega was loaned to Monclova of the Mexican League, and Eliezer Alfonzo was sent to Mexico City.

The team also released catcher Selme Angulo.

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Greg Zakwin is the founder of the site Plaschke Thy Sweater Is Argyle. Follow him on Twitter @ArgyledPlaschke.

Adrian Gonzalez and his neck strain still pose an issue for the Dodgers, as he can swing a bat without pain but can’t play the field or run without significant discomfort.

If there was an opportunity for the Dodgers to unilaterally impose the designated hitter rule upon the National League, they just might do it. After all, their first baseman Adrian Gonzalez is still bothered by a muscular strain in his neck, but it doesn’t really hinder his performance at the plate.

“We don’t know what gets him. The play where he goes to his right and gets the lead guy, that stung him. Then a swing stung him,” said manager Don Mattingly. “We thought it was a good time to get him out of there. The beat kind of goes on with Adrian. He’s still swinging the bat good.”

“That’s the one thing. It doesn’t really bother me when I hit,” Gonzalez said. “Just throwing, running for fly balls, running with my head up, that hurts, especially going back. But even moving forward with my head up it hurts. With fly balls it’s hard for me to go hard or even go comfortably. I’d say the fly balls are the worst.”

It has become a daily battle for Gonzalez of getting treatment and preparing for a game, only to have that relative calm disrupted during play.

“It’s a strain. Once I get up and start running and throwing during the game, it just seems to get worse and worse and worse.”

Fortunately, he’s in the lineup today.

However, the injury will likely continue to keep A-Gon in and out of the lineup if he tries to play through it. Scott Van Slyke could see significant time going forward, especially if something happens to re-aggravate it.

——

Zack Greinke‘s rehab start went off without a hitch and the righty is scheduled to return from his broken collarbone Wednesday at home against Washington.

Zack Greinke pitched into the fifth inning for the Class-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on Friday night on a minor league rehab assignment, and could be in line to pitch next for the Dodgers on Wednesday against the Nationals.

“If the doctors say he can pitch, we’re going to let him pitch. We feel like his arm is going to be ready to pitch. He has thrown two 60-pitch bullpens, he’s going to throw 75 pitches tonight,” manager Don Mattingly said before the Dodgers played the Marlins on Friday night. “As long as the doctors say that’s safe for him to pitch with, then he’ll pitch. Knowing Zack, he probably would have pitched tonight.”

I’m giving the Dodgers the benefit of the doubt that they’re not rushing Zack. The club obviously needs him, but not so much so that he should be pitching injured. No amount of need is acceptable enough to put an already injured player at further risk, and even a slight change in mechanics could create problems that this team certainly doesn’t need.

——

Scott Elbert continues to rehab and is nearing a return to The Show.

Scott Elbert, the “other” Dodgers pitcher on a rehab assignment with Class A Rancho Cucamonga, pitched a perfect seventh inning Friday night and got the win in his first game appearance since two elbow operations.

The left-handed Elbert will pitch another inning Monday and might follow that with an appearance at Triple-A Albuquerque, but he’s not far away from returning to the Dodgers’ bullpen.

“I’m pretty excited,” said Elbert, who needed only seven pitches to record two strikeouts and a groundout. “It’s a good feeling. It’s been a long time. I feel good. I don’t feel anything.”

Elbert was on a 25-pitch limit, so he went to the bullpen after his inning and threw another 18 pitches to get in his work. The Quakes, who trailed by five runs at one point, took the lead while Elbert was the pitcher of record.

“If I can do what I did tonight, I can help them out [in Los Angeles],” said Elbert. “I almost feel I’m back to my normal self completely.”

Elbert has great swing and miss stuff, and he could certainly help the big league club if healthy. Considering that the bullpen is struggling, there will likely be a spot for him somewhere, which was an iffy proposition before.

—–

Minor-league injury notes:

Placed on 7-day DL: 2B Elevys Gonzalez, OF Malcolm Holland
Reinstated from DL: C Jan Vazquez, 1B Chris Jacobs, 2B Rafael Ynoa

Chris Jacobs, the light-tower power 1B, and Rafael Ynoa, the potential utility infielder, highlight the list.

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Greg Zakwin is the founder of the site Plaschke Thy Sweater Is Argyle. Follow him on Twitter @ArgyledPlaschke.

Mark Ellis finally hit the 15-day DL, being placed on it Monday retroactive to April 27. The Dodgers activated Chris Capuano from the 15-day DL in a corresponding move.

It took the Dodgers about a week longer than it should have, but as expected Mark Ellis was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Monday with a strained right quad. The move clears a spot for Chris Capuano to be activated from the DL to start the series opener Monday night against the Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium.

Capuano returns from a strained left calf that sidelined him for 20 days. He made one rehab start, last Wednesday against Memphis with Triple-A Albuquerque, and allowed two runs in 5⅓ innings.

What a season. Also, why would you wait so long, Don and Ned? Does playing a position player short for an entire week with a team already lacking in offensive talent on the bench really sound like a good idea?

——

Jerry Hairston Jr. also joined the injury club, as he was placed on the disabled list due to a strained groin. Elian Herrera was recalled from AAA.

The Dodgers made it official on Tuesday, placing Jerry Hairston on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left groin. Elian Herrera was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque before the second game of a three-game series against the Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium.

I would call the Herrera promotion a surprise, as he is the weakest hitter of the four options from Triple-A Albuquerque, but he is also the only one of the four both healthy and on the 40-man roster.

“He’s and outfielder, pretty much. We feel like those are his best positions, the corners,” manager Don Mattingly said of Herrera. “He’s played the corners. He’s a right-handed bat.”

Herrera was the choice because he was on the 40-man and others weren’t, which led to the following move.

—–

Herrera was soon thereafter sent back to AAA, as Scott Van Slyke was recalled after being added to the 40-man roster.

Van Slyke, who was designated for assignment in December and outrighted off the 40-man roster, came into camp with something to prove this season, and showed it during the season’s first month. He hit .397/.503/.733 with nine home runs, 10 doubles, 32 runs scored, and 30 RBI in 34 games for Albuquerque.

Insurance with A-Gon battling his neck injury. It only makes sense, which begs the question of why they waited so long and had to deal with Juan Uribe and friends at first for multiple games.

—–

To allow SVS’s addition to the 40-man, Chad Billingsley was transferred from the 15-day DL to the 60-day disabled list.

—–

Tim Federowicz was recalled from Albuquerque, as Justin Sellers was sent down.

The Dodgers on Wednesday bolstered their bench by recalling red-hot catcher Tim Federowicz from Triple-A Albuquerque, and optioned infielder Justin Sellers to Triple-A before their series finale against the Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium.

“We had plenty of infielders,” said manager Don Mattingly. “We look at it from the standpoint of having a better hitting bench.”

Hey look, three catchers again. Ramon Hernandez‘s days could very well be numbered.

—–

Our own Dustin Nosler brings us the news that righty Ross Stripling was promoted from High-A to Double-A.

The Dodgers on Tuesday promoted right-handed pitcher Ross Stripling to Double-A Chattanooga from High-A Rancho Cucamonga. The 2012 fifth-round draft pick has been on a nearly meteoric rise since the Dodgers popped him last season.

Stripling, 23, posted some impressive numbers in the California League early this season. He struck out 34 batters in 33 2/3 innings, walked 11 batters and allowed just one home run. Those are numbers for anyone to hang his hat on, let alone a guy in his first full season in a hitter’s haven.

Due to his age and performance, he’s understandably being fast-tracked. If he performs at AA, and with the way injuries are going, who knows where he ends up in September.

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Greg Zakwin is the founder of the site Plaschke Thy Sweater Is Argyle. Follow him on Twitter @ArgyledPlaschke.

Zack Greinke is ahead of schedule as he works his way back from his broken left collarbone.

For the third time in six days, Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke threw a bullpen session on Tuesday afternoon before the Dodgers hosted the Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. The right-hander is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a broken collarbone.

Greinke threw just over 60 pitches on Tuesday, and like Saturday in San Francisco was clocked at 90 mph. Unlike last Thursday’s light bullpen session at Dodger Stadium, the last two have been much more strenuous, with Greinke throwing all of his pitches.

“My normal bullpen session is 20 pitches at 75 percent,” Greinke said. “This was nothing like a normal bullpen session for me.”

Now, Greinke could begin a minor league rehab assignment as soon as this weekend, provided he has no setbacks. That could put Greinke in line to return to the Dodgers at some time around the last week of May.

He’s been throwing bullpen sessions and will start a rehab assignment soon, and the Dodgers could really use that lethal one-two punch atop the rotation as soon as possible.

How soon?

Try tomorrow, in Rancho.

Zack Greinke to pitch in Class A tomorrow. Would be in line to return to #Dodgers rotation Wednesday vs. Nationals. May 10, 2013

If Greinke does indeed return on Wednesday of next week, he would have missed just under five weeks, well ahead of the original timetable given of eight weeks.

—–

Adrian Gonzalez has a strained muscle in his neck, suffered in that odd and innocuous-looking collision with a first-base umpire a few days back.

First baseman Adrian Gonzalez had an MRI on Monday that revealed a mild strain in his left trapezious muscle at the base of his neck, but he will play through the pain.

“I’m going to try to play through it and see how it feels,” Gonzalez said Monday afternoon. “It’s not getting worse, but there’s still quite a bit of pain there.”

The injury has forced him out of games early and seen him scratched entirely in others, but Gonzalez intends to play through the pain, which sounds pretty typical for an injured Dodger.

Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez left Wednesday night’s game against the Diamondbacks in the fifth inning, one inning after making a diving attempt to catch a foul ball. Gonzalez has been battling a strained muscle in his neck, and the Dodgers say he aggravated the neck strain on Wednesday.

Gonzalez is listed as day-to-day.

Honestly, just rest the guy and DL him – which they should have done originally – as there is baseball beyond 2013. Letting guys play through injury just leads to a more serious injury or compensating for the injured area and then injuring a different area.

Speaking of the consequences of playing through pain…

…A-Gon’s shoulder injury from a couple of years ago has permanently altered his ability to hit for power.

His days as that kind of power hitter are gone.

That is not a whisper from an anonymous scout. That is the word from Gonzalez himself, who says he has been unable to recover the swing that made him an elite power hitter.

“I can still hit home runs,” Gonzalez said. “That is not going to be an issue. The full power is not the same.”

“Last year, I tried to go back to the swing I had before I got hurt,” he said. “I tried it for the whole first half, with horrible results.”

We all remember them letting Matt Kemp persist, right? Now he might not ever be the same?

Great.

—–

Carl Crawford‘s hamstring was feeling tight, and he was held out of the lineup Wednesday as a precaution.

Dodgers left fielder Carl Crawford was held out of the starting lineup for the series finale against the Diamondbacks on Wednesday night with tightness in his right hamstring. Utility man Elian Herrera gets the start in left field in Crawford’s place.

“Carl felt a little bit tender, it feels like something is going on. We’re just being cautious, with the off day tomorrow,” said manager Don Mattingly. “I had planned on playing him today, but when he comes in and feels like he’s a little bit tight, it’s better than playing him and he ends up pulling it and you miss him for a long time.”

A hamstring injury for a guy whose game is predicated on his legs is never a good thing.

—–

Hanley Ramirez will be on the shelf for roughly four to six weeks with his hamstring injury.

MRI results for Hanley Ramirez confirmed a strain of his left hamstring strain, and the Dodgers are placing the official timetable for his return at four to six weeks. That puts Ramirez back with the Dodgers some time in the first two weeks of June if all goes according to plan.

Just think if he and Greinke and Gonzalez and Kemp are all on the field together at the same time, healthy. This squad could possibly win a game or two.

—–

Mark Ellis hit the 15-day DL with his quad injury and is eligible to return on May 12, as the move was a retroactive one.

It took the Dodgers about a week longer than it should have, but as expected Mark Ellis was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Monday with a strained right quad.

Chris Capuano was activated from the disabled list and took his spot on the 25-man roster.

—–

Jerry Hairston Jr. hit the DL with a strain of his left groin. Elian Herrera was recalled to take his place.

The Dodgers made it official on Tuesday, placing Jerry Hairston on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left groin.

Based on various beat reports from Monday, Hairston tried to test his groin during pregame workouts but was unable to complete them. Hairston aggravated the injury on Saturday night in San Francisco, but appeared as a pinch hitter on Sunday.

Hairston was pretty much the only guy with any amount of power on the bench.

—–

Scott Elbert is set to begin a rehab assignment and could be available in the next week to week and a half.

Reliever Scott Elbert, healed from two left elbow operations, will begin a Minor League rehab assignment Friday for Class A Rancho Cucamonga and could be back in the Dodgers’ bullpen within seven to 10 days.

Elbert threw a simulated game Saturday in extended spring training in Arizona, employing a revamped delivery designed to ease stress on his elbow after undergoing two offseason operations and a platelet-rich plasma injection during Spring Training.

Well, this is a bright spot at least.

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Greg Zakwin is the founder of the site Plaschke Thy Sweater Is Argyle. Follow him on Twitter @ArgyledPlaschke.

Matt Magill, who was rocked in his his last start against the rival Giants, will still be in the rotation come his next turn:

Rookie pitcher Matt Magill, who lasted only 1 1/3 innings in Saturday night’s start, will remain in the rotation for at least one more start Friday night, manager Don Mattingly said Sunday.

The Dodgers could have skipped Magill because of a day off Thursday, but Mattingly said he still had confidence in Magill, who allowed five runs on six hits and four walks to the Giants after allowing only two runs in 6 2/3 innings against the Brewers in his Major League debut last Sunday.

“He’s an easy guy to trust,” said Mattingly. “A kid like him stays calm, he keeps working. He had the same demeanor that he had after his last time out. You get a good feeling with him.”

Confidence is one thing, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to rely on a rookie to get a quality start when it’s not even necessary.

—–

Clayton Kershaw was activated from the Bereavement List following the death of his father, in time to make his scheduled start Friday.

Kershaw was placed on the bereavement list on Monday after his father passed away, to make room for the activation of shortstop Hanley Ramirez from the disabled list. Kershaw last pitched Sunday and is starting Friday night on regular rest. He missed the minimum three games required of placement on the bereavement list.

Somehow he managed to pitch well in his return, but the Dodgers obviously lost on a walk-off.

—–

Hanley Ramirez is injured yet again, suffering a hamstring injury Friday and hitting the DL Saturday, which led to the return of Dee Gordon.

The Dodgers on Saturday decided the hamstring injury suffered by Hanley Ramirez was enough to send him to the disabled list. The Dodgers recalled shortstop Dee Gordon from Triple-A Albuquerque before Saturday’s game, as first reported by Jon Heyman of CBS Sports and Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. Bob Nightengale reported the Dodgers plan to play Gordon exclusively at shortstop in place of Ramirez.

In 2013, Gordon has hit .314/.397/.431 for Triple-A Albuquerque, with 19 runs scored in 25 games, and has stolen 14 bases in 16 attempts.

Seems fitting considering the way 2013 has begun. A team already struggling to score runs just got worse.

Gordon has shown improved plate discipline in AAA, but the real test will be his defense.

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Greg Zakwin is the founder of the site Plaschke Thy Sweater Is Argyle. Follow him on Twitter @ArgyledPlaschke.

Clayton Kershaw was placed on the Bereavement List but is expected to make his scheduled start Friday.

By rule, Kershaw must miss a minimum of three games but a maximum of seven while on the bereavement list.

There were no further details given, as the team called it a “personal issue” that Kershaw would address when he returns to the team. Manager Don Mattingly said Kershaw is still in line to make his next start, on Friday in San Francisco against the Giants.

“As of right now we (expect Kershaw to start),” said Mattingly. “We’ll see where that goes.”

Ken Gurnick provided an update on the tragedy suffered by the Kershaw family that led to Clayton’s leave.

Clayton Kershaw is on the bereavement list because of the death of his father. Kershaw will fly to SF with the club and make Friday start.

— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) April 30, 2013

Best wishes to The Minotaur.

—–

Javy Guerra was recalled from AAA as Josh Wall heads back down to Albuquerque.

#Dodgers today recalled Javy Guerra (#48) from @abqtopes and optioned Josh Wall to Albuquerque.

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 30, 2013

Figured this would be the move, but I’m still concerned about Wall’s health, as he threw in excess of 60 pitches in one outing and was down to 85 mph at one point (normally 92-95).

—–

The Dodgers signed Aaron Laffey to a minor-league deal. This is what it has come to.

The Dodgers, who had too many starting pitchers a couple of weeks ago, are in such a bind that they signed free agent left-hander Aaron Laffey to a Minor League deal Tuesday.

Everybody ready for the Laffey era?!

No? Me neither.

—–

The Dodgers have ceased the experiment of converting Netherlands catcher Dashenko Ricardo into a pitcher and will instead let him remain behind the plate.

It turns out, not everyone can pull a Kenley Jansen and convert from a position player to a dominant relief pitcher. Not even another Netherlands World Baseball Classic catcher from Willemstead, Curacao.

Dashenko Ricardo, whom the Dodgers signed to a minor league contract in March, has scrapped any thoughts of a conversion to the mound. The 23-year-old had six strikeouts in three innings two years ago in the Arizona League with the Giants, but also allowed three runs. More importantly, his right arm was hurt.

So it’s back to catcher for Ricardo, who is with the Class-A Great Lakes Loons, and is hitting .265/.316/.324 in 11 games.

“I’m sure his success had a lot to do with the idea that I could pitch,” Ricardo told Hugh Bernreuter of Michigan Live. “I don’t know if it was mechanics, but it worked for him. I liked to pitch, but for me, it just hurt my arm.”

Probably not a good thing to let a guy pitch whose arm hurts when he pitches. Unfortunately though, the reality is that now Dashenko goes from intriguing follow to minor-league depth.

—–

The Dodgers have dipped into the international market yet again, signing Osiris Ramirez for $100,000, per Baseball America.

At 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, Ramirez has most recently been throwing his fastball 87-91 mph with good armside life. Scouts were mixed on his curveball, but some have seem him show feel for the 75-79 mph offering, which is more advanced than his low-80s changeup.

Ramirez is athletic and had previously been a shortstop, but he moved to the mound within the last two years and generated some buzz as a pitcher on the rise last year as July 2 approached. Ramirez, who was born in Puerto Plata, has been living in San Francisco de Macoris and training with Laurentino Genao. He’s expected to start his career in the Dominican Summer League.

After years of virtual inactivity on this front, it seems nary a month or two go by now without an international signing. Going in the right direction, for sure.

Ramirez, a 17-year-old righty, will likely begin his pro career playing for the Dominican Summer League Dodgers team.

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Greg Zakwin is the founder of the site Plaschke Thy Sweater Is Argyle. Follow him on Twitter @ArgyledPlaschke.

Zack Greinke is throwing from 90 feet in his recovery effort from a broken collarbone.

The Dodgers have been encouraged by Zack Greinke’s recovery from a broken left collarbone, and the right-hander is already throwing less than three weeks removed from surgery.

Greinke threw from 90 feet before Monday’s game against the Rockies. He had surgery on April 13 and had a metal plate inserted into his clavicle to stabilize the fracture. But that’s not prevented him from beginning a throwing program.

“It’s still a little achy here and there, but nothing worse than what you would expect, I think,” Greinke said. “You try not to have setbacks but at the same time do what you can.”

Greinke is likely to be sidelined until mid-June, but the Dodgers are still pleased with his progress.

“I was pretty excited when he walked through the weight room today,” manager Don Mattingly said before Monday’s game. “He’s feeling better. We’re getting closer. We’ll see if he’s sore tomorrow or feels good again.”

He doesn’t appear to be ahead of or behind the schedule.

—–

Ted Lilly is hurt … again. This time it’s back stiffness that has felled the southpaw.

In what is becoming an almost daily occurrence, another Dodgers pitcher is hurt. Ted Lilly, who lasted just three innings in Monday’s 12-2 loss to the Rockies, has stiffness in his back and will have an MRI exam on Tuesday to determine the extent of the injury.

Both Lilly and manager Don Mattingly downplayed the injury after the game.

“I think he’s okay. From what I heard afterwards, he got kind of tight somewhere in his back there,” Mattingly said. “It’s something that he’s had before. We didn’t hear anything about it before the game.”

Lilly said he first felt back tightness on Thursday, the day after his start in New York, when he gave up one run in five innings to the Mets. But he didn’t think it would last, as he had a similar issue that went away quickly at the beginning of the 2012 season.

Lilly received a cortisone injection in his rib cage and has been shut down for two days.

The Dodgers said Lilly will be reevaluated again on Thursday to determine the next course of action. If he is unable to start on Saturday against the Giants in San Francisco, it is likely that start will go to Matt Magill, who made his major league debut on Saturday against the Brewers.

“I think I have a few things to be concerned about. The back being one of them, and just ineffectiveness,” Lilly said on Monday night. “There are a lot of guys in this clubhouse not feeling as good as they’d like to, but you still expect to get the results you’re looking for.”

Matt Magill over Ted Lilly, healthy or otherwise.

—–

Carl Crawford was scratched from Tuesday’s game due to tightness in his right hamstring.

Carl Crawford was scratched from the lineup tonight for precautionary reasons due to tightness in his right hamstring.

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 30, 2013

Because … of course. Whether it’s serious or not is not yet known, but hamstring issues can linger, regardless.

—–

Hanley Ramirez and his thumb are back in action in The Show.

“I just want to play. I don’t want to wait any longer. I think I can play,” Ramirez said before Monday’s game with the Rockies. “If it’s tomorrow, it’s fine. If it’s tonight, it’s fine. It’s not my decision.”

The Dodgers activated Ramirez from the disabled list before Monday’s game, and placed Clayton Kershaw on the bereavement list.

Ramirez was 3-for-6 (.500) with a double and three runs batted in and a run scored in two minor league rehab games on Saturday and Sunday with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga. He didn’t make any throws on Sunday, but manager Don Mattingly was impressed with what he saw of Ramirez on tape.

Don’t dive head-first for a while, Hanley. :o

—–

Chad Billingsley does not regret the path he chose after learning his elbow was seriously injured late last season.

Chad Billingsley said he doesn’t regret choosing platelet-rich plasma injections over Tommy John surgery last year.

— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) April 30, 2013

He also said he thinks he’ll be ready for 2014 Opening Day. If that seems optimistic, it’s because it is. Realistically, hopefully he’s back and healthy by the 2014 All-Star Game break.

—–

Minor-league moves:

Placed on 7-day DL: C Webster Rivas, SS Ozzie Martinez
Reinstated from DL: C Pratt Maynard, SS Casio Grider, OF Brian Cavazos-Galvez

Also off the 7-day DL is Yasiel Puig.

—–

Alex Castellanos was also placed on the minor-league 7-day DL.

Those assumptions, however, proved incorrect as Castellanos was placed on the 7-day disabled list due to right forearm inflammation prior to Tuesday’s game.

“He’s got a little soreness in his forearm so we’re going to let it calm down a little bit,” manager Lorenzo Bundy said prior to the official DL announcement. “He could play, but we’re going to err on the safe side.”

So if something happens to Crawford, first call would probably go to Scott Van Slyke, even over Puig.

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Greg Zakwin is the founder of the site Plaschke Thy Sweater Is Argyle. Follow him on Twitter @ArgyledPlaschke.

Hanley Ramirez‘s rehab stint with Rancho Cucamonga has gone well, and he’s supposedly in line to return to The Show early this week.

Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez went 1-for-3 with two RBIs in his first of two scheduled rehab starts with the Quakes, as Rancho downed the visiting Lake Elsinore Storm, 8-3, at LoanMart Field on Saturday night.

Ramirez led off the game with a single to center and followed that with an RBI groundout, a sharp groundout to second base and a sacrifice fly to center before he was replaced by Darnell Sweeney in the seventh inning.

The first game went swimmingly, and the second game went well too…

He followed it up Sunday with six more innings, going 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and run scored. Ramirez is recovering from a torn ligament in his right thumb that required surgery on March 22.

…but he dove head-first into second base during the game, and his hand was heavily wrapped in the clubhouse afterward.

Believed to be precautionary. RT @cousneddie did he reinjure the hand? Report he left stadium with hand heavily wrapped

— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) April 29, 2013

He left without speaking to reporters, apparently, which is probably more bad than good.

—–

Mark Ellis has yet to undergo an MRI on his injured quad, and the Dodgers will play the waiting game on a retroactive DL stint.

The Dodgers won’t have the services of Mark Ellis for at least Saturday night and possibly the weekend, but the second baseman hasn’t been placed on the disabled list just yet. Ellis strained his right quad and left in the fifth inning on Friday night against the Brewers.

Ellis was said to be feeling much better on Saturday, so much so that he didn’t even have an MRI exam. He walked on the aquatic treadmill underwater Saturday in the Dodgers’ new training facility to test the leg.

“I hate to say it, but I feel like it’s good news because it’s not like he walks in today and he has to be on the list. He was really good today,” said manager Don Mattingly. “Let’s see what he looks like tomorrow, and we’ll be closer to making a decision tomorrow. Obviously we’ll bite the bullet for a day or two, and see where we’re at.”

So they’re optimistic he can avoid a DL stint, but he hasn’t tried to actually run yet.

“I’m still kind of day-to-day, but I’m really optimistic at this point,” Ellis said.

Ellis said he is able to swing and throw without discomfort. He took swings in the batting cage Sunday morning, but has yet to start running to test his injured leg.

Ellis did not have an MRI. He said he was nervous when he first felt the injury, but felt better soon after.

“I thought it was going to be something a little bit more serious,” Ellis said. “But that went away pretty quick after jogging back to the dugout.”

With the team’s history of players gutting it out through injury, it’s probably best if he just plays it safe.

—–

Chris Capuano has rehabbed without setback and will make at least one rehab appearance before returning.

Chris Capuano threw a simulated game to Dodgers hitters on Saturday, and the Dodgers left-hander gets closer to a return to the starting rotation. He hasn’t had any setbacks while on the disabled list with a strained left calf, but at the same time is anxious to return to the mound in a major league game.

“I haven’t felt one thing, knock on wood, in this whole process,” Capuano said. “Throwing hasn’t been a problem all along. I’ve been able to long toss and do my pens full out. Just yesterday we started running outside, and we’ll progress to more lateral, explosive type movements, so I’ll be able to bounce off the mound and run the bases.”

“I’ve been running at 60 or 70 percent body weight, and have been gradually increasing that to 80 or 90 percent. That’s a really good tool to slowly reintroduce running,” Capuano said. “With this new facility it’s been a great place to rehab. There’s just every kind of device to get you healthy here possible.”

He’ll likely toe the rubber on Wednesday.

—–

Stephen Fife had felt soreness in his right shoulder for roughly a week before the decision was made to shelve him.

The decision to put Stephen Fife on the disabled list with right shoulder bursitis was ultimately made on Friday, though it has been developing for about a week. Fife first felt soreness in his right shoulder after his Sunday start in Baltimore.

“It came up after the last start. The morning of the off day he woke up sore,” manager Don Mattingly said of Fife. “The next day he was better. He threw in New York but it was easy toss, and that was okay. But once yesterday came he wasn’t able to really throw. They felt like it was better, but it wasn’t going to be enough to make him start.”

Fife said he has had his shoulder on ice every day this week, and has been shut down for three or four days from throwing. But he feels the injury won’t keep him out much longer than his 15 days on the disabled list, retroactive to Apr. 22.

He was headed down whenever Capuano returned anyway, and with Matt Magill‘s excellent debut and Ted Lilly soon to return, Fife may fall further down the depth chart.

—–

Adrian Gonzalez was scratched from Saturday’s game with a skin infection in his right leg.

The latest Dodgers player to fall is Adrian Gonzalez, who was scratched from Saturday night’s lineup with a small skin infection in his right leg. Gonzalez is currently at the hospital but is expected back later Saturday and will be available to play later in the game against the Brewers.

The ailment was not serious, as Gonzalez entered Saturday’s game and played Sunday.

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Greg Zakwin is the founder of the site Plaschke Thy Sweater Is Argyle. Follow him on Twitter @ArgyledPlaschke.

Stephen Fife is having shoulder problems, because why wouldn’t he with the way the injuries have been going for the Dodgers.

Stephen Fife, who was scheduled to start Saturday night against the Brewers, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder bursitis. Matt Magill was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque and will make his major league debut in place of Fife.

The upside is that the Dodgers get to test out their top prospects, I guess.

—–

Will Carroll is reporting Zack Greinke will begin a scheduled throwing session next week.

— Will Carroll (@injuryexpert) April 25, 2013

While it certainly seems like a quick recovery, Carroll also notes that it was always expected Greinke would resume throwing following the broken collarbone at this time. Therefore, it doesn’t mean he’ll return to game action any earlier than the original timetable of eight weeks.

Eric Stephen caught up with Don Mattingly and reports that Greinke’s throwing will not be strenuous for the time being.

Don Mattingly said Zack Greinke has been playing catch but nothing strenuous just yet. “He’s not going to start throwing bullpens.”

— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) April 27, 2013

—–

Chad Billingsley‘s elbow finally went boom, and the righty underwent Tommy John surgery, which will sideline him until sometime next season.

Chad Billingsley met with team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Tuesday and the news was not good. The Dodgers’ right-hander will need Tommy John surgery to repair the partially torn ligament in his right elbow. An MRI taken Saturday revealed an injury to the ligament.

Billingsley had increased tightness and pain in his right elbow in a bullpen session on Apr. 19, and he was scratched on Sunday in Baltimore and placed on the disabled list.

The surgery went off as expected with no complications.

The Tommy John surgery performed on Chad Billingsley’s right elbow Wednesday night went as expected, and he could be sidelined for a year.

Should his rehab go well, I would figure no earlier than after the 2014 All-Star Game for Bills’ return.

—–

Hanley Ramirez will head out on a rehab assignment beginning Saturday, as he continues to be ahead of schedule in his return from a torn ligament in his thumb.

Shortstop Hanley Ramirez is likely to begin a Minor League rehab assignment within the next few days, but he’ll still need to wear a splint when he returns to the Dodgers, because the repaired ligament in his right thumb will still be healing.

“Maybe by the end of next week I hope to be [active],” Ramirez said after an improved workout, watched by manager Don Mattingly. “It’s still swollen. It doesn’t look normal yet. I don’t want to come back and go back to the DL. It won’t be 100 percent, but it’ll be at a level I’m comfortable with.

“Right now I think about it a little bit. I still feel it. I have to wear the splint for six weeks. If I come back early, I still have to have it.”

After undergoing surgery on March 22, Ramirez was told his healing time would be six to eight weeks, but he’s been throwing and hitting for more than a week.

HanRam will head to Rancho Cucamonga for the assignment. His goal is to return by the time his “I See You” bobblehead is given out, which just so happens to be this Tuesday.

Rancho coming soon!!!!!

— Hanley Ramirez (@HanleyRamirez) April 25, 2013

—–

Mark Ellis left Friday’s game with a strained right quad suffered as he ran to first to try and beat out a grounder.

Ellis will have an MRI on Saturday and will likely hit the DL if the strain is confirmed.

“He kind of seemed to be optimistic, but we’ll just have to see. It’s tough to see that tonight. Tomorrow probably will be a better indicator.”

Mattingly didn’t want to speculate, but it does sound like an injury that will keep Ellis sidelined for the immediate future.

“If I had to guess, usually guys don’t come out of games like that and it not be something,” Mattingly said. “It’s usually something that’s not going to be a day or two.”

Much like with my fantasy team, the injuries are never-ending and one after another.

—–

Chris Capuano threw a bullpen session Thursday and will take the hill in a simulated game on Sunday. The lefty is on the mend after suffering a left calf strain in the Carlos Quentin Debacle and further aggravating the injury in his only start of the season.

“Cappy hasn’t had to stop at all because of his arm,” said Mattingly.

The next step for Capuano after the simulated game would be a minor league rehab start before he is ready to be activated. The date for Capuano to be activated figures to be May 8, the final game of a three-game series at Dodger Stadium against the Diamondbacks.

With Dodgers pitchers falling left and right, some good news is more than welcome.

—–

Shawn Tolleson had surgery on a herniated disk in his lower back and will be on the shelf for three to five months.

Dodgers reliever Shawn Tolleson was scheduled to undergo surgery for a herniated disk in his lower back Thursday. He will be out three to five months.

Tough break for a really talented guy.

—–

On the minor-league side of things, there were six DL moves made:

Placed on 7-day DL: C Webster Rivas, SS Ozzie Martinez, OF Yasiel Puig
Reinstated from DL: C Pratt Maynard, SS Casio Grider, OF Brian Cavazos-Galvez

Yasiel Puig obviously highlights that list.

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Greg Zakwin is the founder of the site Plaschke Thy Sweater Is Argyle. Follow him on Twitter @ArgyledPlaschke.

Ted Lilly will make his first start of the season on Wednesday, replacing the injured Chris Capuano, who had replaced the injured Zack Greinke.

Ted Lilly will start Wednesday night’s game against the Mets, manager Don Mattingly confirmed Friday. Lilly replaces the injured Chris Capuano, who previously replaced the injured Zack Greinke.

“That’s our plan,” said Mattingly. “Obviously, he’s got to come out of the bullpen today and one more [side session], but that’s the plan.”

Though the results of his rehab starts were not necessarily good, Lilly was happy with the progression of each start.

Lilly said each of his three rehab starts was better than the previous with his delivery and ability to adjust. He said he’s looking forward to competing again in the Major Leagues for the first time since last May.

He’s back to reclaim his homer-giver-upper throne!

In all seriousness, he better be ready.

—–

Chad Billingsley was placed on the 15-day DL with right elbow pain. Stephen Fife was recalled to replace Bills and he started in his place on Sunday.

What was once a ridiculously deep starting staff has now been decimated, with three guys injured and a fourth dealt.

—–

Tim Federowicz was recalled for a second time to replace the injured Capuano.

One day after he left his start in the third inning against the Padres with a left calf strain, Dodgers pitcher Chris Capuano was placed on the 15-day disabled list. To take his place on the roster, the Dodgers recalled catcher Tim Federowicz from Triple-A Albuquerque.

With a trip to the American League, the Dodgers decided to bring up another bat rather than replace an arm with an arm.

—–

Josh Wall was recalled once again, taking the place of an injured Shawn Tolleson.

Wall, who was among the final roster cuts of spring training, had a 2.08 ERA in four games with the Isotopes with one save, five strikeouts and three walks in 4⅓ innings.

The move was announced literally right before first pitch and at the time Wall was en route to Dodger Stadium, on Jackie Robinson Night.

Unfortunately, at the rate he’s going, he’ll be back down sooner than later.

—–

Jerry Hairston Jr., who had been appealing his one-game suspension stemming from the Carlos Quentin debacle, dropped the appeal and served the suspension on Wednesday.

—–

The Dodgers signed pitcher Anthony Ortega to a minor-league deal and assigned him to AAA to replace the recently called-up Stephen Fife.

—–

The Dodgers continue to pluck from the international pool of talent, signing RHP Osiris Ramirez (Puerto Plata), RHP Angel German, and 3B Jimy Perez (Bani).

—–

A slew of minor-league moves also went down:

Signed: RHP Victor Arano, 2B David Compton, OF Antonio Torres
Released: RHP Danny Carela
Loaned To Mexican League: RHP Javier Solano (Monterrey), LHP Thomas Melgarejo (Saltillo), 2B Jesus Alberto Arredondo (Monclova)

Biggest name on that list is probably relief pitcher Javier Solano.

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Greg Zakwin is the founder of the site Plaschke Thy Sweater Is Argyle. Follow him on Twitter @ArgyledPlaschke.

Chad Billingsley, with his elbow basically hanging by a thread and ready to explode at any moment, has been placed on the 15-day DL with right elbow pain. The move is retroactive to April 16 and it marks his second stint on the DL in the young season.

#Dodgers place RHP Chad Billingsley on 15-day DL (right elbow pain) retroactive to 4/16 and recall RHP Stephen Fife to make today’s start.

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 21, 2013

Billingsley underwent a MRI exam yesterday. Results still haven’t been reviewed by #DrNealElAttrache.

— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) April 21, 2013

Billingsley said the feeling in his elbow isn’t the same as last year.This elbow pain didn’t happen on 1 pitch like last year

— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) April 21, 2013

While it was an admirable attempt to help the team, at least in theory, he really should have gotten Tommy John surgery last August/September.

Stephen Fife was recalled to replace Bills and started Sunday in his place.

—–

Hanley Ramirez continues to progress with his rehab, though Don Mattingly doesn’t foresee a rehab assignment for another week or so.

Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez took live early batting practice at Camden Yards before Friday night’s game and hit with power, but manager Don Mattingly said a Minor League rehab assignment is still at least a week away.

“It’s still a little sore in the joint, three weeks without moving it,” said Ramirez, who appeared ginger on his throws to first base.

“What he’s been able to do has shocked all of us,” said Mattingly. “Taking BP, his swing is like normal. Is he able to do that without the brace? There’s still healing to be done. It seems his throwing, he still has trouble with the feel making all his throws. He asked if he could DH tonight and I couldn’t hardly argue. I wouldn’t mind it.”

The Dodgers are pleased with the power Ramirez has shown in BP, and the fact that he’s healing ahead of schedule bodes well for a team with offensive vortexes at both 3B and SS.

—–

Chris Capuano hit the 15-day DL with a left calf strain suffered during the Carlos Quentin/Zack Greinke incident two Thursdays ago.

#Dodgers place LHP Chris Capuano on 15-day DL (left calf strain); recall C Tim Federowicz from @abqtopes.

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 17, 2013

Capuano received treatment between the original injury and his spot-start on Tuesday, before re-injuring it during the game while running to cover first base.

The left calf strain that put Dodgers pitcher Chris Capuano on the disabled list on Wednesday originally surfaced on Thursday night during the benches-clearing incident in San Diego that sidelined Zack Greinke.

Capuano said he felt tightness before that game and felt it worsen while sprinting in from the bullpen during the fracas that was triggered when Greinke hit Padres outfielder Carlos Quentin with a pitch.

Capuano said he thought the injury had responded enough to four days of treatment to allow him to start Tuesday night in Greinke’s place, only for the muscle to partially tear when he sprinted off the mound to cover first base in the second inning.

Chris had an MRI and received an injection of platelet-rich plasma in the affected area on Thursday.

—–

Where is Yasiel Puig? On the DL.

The answer to why Dodgers outfield prospect Yasiel Puig didn’t play for Double-A Chattanooga on Friday night was the simplest of sorts. No, he wasn’t en route to Baltimore to join the Dodgers. Instead, Puig was placed on the seven-day disabled list with a sprained left thumb, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.

While this should serve to blunt the madness surrounding his name, he desperately needs the plate appearances.

—–

Down on the farm, five Dodgers got healthy and three more hit the DL.

RHP Matt Shelton, C Pratt Maynard, and OF Devin Shines were placed on the 7-day DL, while RHP Steve Ames, RHP Juan Noriega, C Jan Vazquez, SS Ozzie Martinez, and OF Pat Stover were reinstated from the DL.

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Greg Zakwin is the founder of the site Plaschke Thy Sweater Is Argyle. Follow him on Twitter @ArgyledPlaschke.

Hanley Ramirez has resumed baseball activities, including hitting off of a tee and light toss. He plans to return earlier than the timetable originally given, but the Dodgers aren’t getting ahead of themselves.

Ramirez told reporters Tuesday he would be back ‘way sooner’ than May 17, and that “everybody is going to be shocked” at how quickly he returns.

Manager Don Mattingly was similarly excited but less specific than Ramirez.

“He was in there swinging, and he looks good. Hanley’s moving forward, that’s for sure,” Mattingly said. “I’m going out on a limb and saying it’s not going to be eight weeks.”

So basically he’s declaring himself a miracle, which is fine with me considering the infield situation on the left side.

The sooner he gets back, the better.

—–

Zack Greinke underwent surgery on his broken left collarbone, and the procedure went as expected.

Dodgers right-handed pitcher Zack Greinke had successful surgery to repair a broken left collarbone on Saturday in Los Angeles, the team announced. As previously thought, Greinke is expected to miss eight weeks after the procedure.

The surgery was performed on Saturday by Dr. John Itamura and Dr. Neal ElAttrache at White Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles. The 90-minute procedure fixed the fracture of Greinke’s left clavicle, and involved the placement of a metal plate to stabilize the fracture.

The timetable for Zack’s return is eight weeks, which is about as good as the team could have hoped for.

—–

Ted Lilly agreed to make yet another minor-league rehab start.

It appears that left-handed pitcher Ted Lilly and the Dodgers have agreed to extend their inconvenient arrangement a little while longer. Lilly has agreed to make another minor league start on his rehabilitation assignment, a change from his weekend stance.

“It’s really been above me, what’s going on. They’ve been working it out,” Mattingly said. “We just give our baseball opinion, on what we felt like he needed, and they worked it out.”

Then he made it and impressed Ken Howell.

If and when the Dodgers need a replacement for the injured Chris Capuano, Ted Lilly is ready, assistant pitching coach Ken Howell said Tuesday night.

“He looked tonight like a Major League pitcher,” said Howell. “He managed the game, his pitches were crisper, he competed better. That’s what I was looking for. He pitched better than the numbers indicate.”

Looks more and more likely that he’ll have to be ready, due to a sudden lack of rotation depth.

—–

Speaking of the devil, Chris Capuano, filling in for an injured Greinke, left Tuesday’s game with a left calf strain. He’s headed for an MRI on Friday, according to Don Mattingly.

Oh, this start to the season just keeps getting better and better.

—–

The recently called-up Shawn Tolleson made one appearance before hitting the 15-day DL with a lower back strain.

Tolleson was recalled on Friday when Zack Greinke went on the disabled list, and pitched in the series opener against the Diamondbacks. Tolleson came in with the bases loaded and one out in the eighth inning with the Dodgers trailing 1-0, but he walked both hitters he faced to force in two inherited runs.

The move is retroactive to April 13, so Tolleson can be activated April 28 if he’s healthy.

As far as his recovery goes, Tolleson has been shut down from throwing for the next week, and he actually felt something before stepping onto the field, but he didn’t address the issue until after putting himself at further risk.

He thinks the travel may have affected his back, but for whatever reason he felt tightness before the his appearance on Friday.

“It was kind of tight all day, and tight when I was warming up. I wasn’t worried about it when I was pitching, I was just trying to throw strikes,” Tolleson said. “But when I came out of the game it just really tightened up on me.”

Sounds iffy as to whether or not he’ll be back after his 15 days are up.

—–

In better news, Carl Crawford has been cleared to resume throwing normally.

Dodgers outfielder Carl Crawford continues to build arm strength following offseason Tommy John Surgery, enough for Dodgers trainers to give him the green light to bypass his cutoff man and throw to the bag when the situation calls for it.

“I’m glad to hear that, actually, because I think as much as anything, he’s been throwing the ball pretty good,” manager Don Mattingly said before Tuesday’s game against the Padres. “I just don’t think he’s been feeling like he should be letting it go. So when the trainers tell him it’s OK, I think it makes you feel better as a player. You can turn it loose.”

Guys have been taking advantage of his throwing arm, but I’m not sure how much of that is due to the surgery and how much of that is just normal for him.

Either way, he’s playing well enough overall for it not to matter.

—–

Scott Elbert, on the shelf following left elbow surgery, is progressing in his rehab and responding well to plasma-rich platelet injections.

After two offseason elbow operations, Elbert experienced a setback midway through Spring Training, received a PRP injection and has rebounded steadily since. He has been throwing hard on flat ground this weekend and could be pitching off a mound in a week or two.

“I’m definitely a lot better, either from the PRP or the shoulder exercises, which also help the elbow because everything is incorporated,” said Elbert. “I wasn’t able to throw more than 75 feet in Spring Training, but I’m up to 90 feet now and my mechanics are a lot better.”

Even if he’s behind two other lefties right now, with the way the season is going, the depth would be nice to have.

—–

Steven Ames was placed on the minor-league 7-day DL.

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Greg Zakwin is the founder of the site Plaschke Thy Sweater Is Argyle. Follow him on Twitter @ArgyledPlaschke.

The Zack Greinke/Carlos Quentin/Dodgers/Padres debacle led to a lot of discussion and a couple of suspensions/fines: one for Quentin and one for Jerry Hairston Jr.

While Zack Greinke is expected to miss eight weeks after surgery to repair his broken left collarbone, Carlos Quentin of the Padres will miss eight games.

Jerry Hairston, who ran toward the Padres dugout after the initial melee died down, was suspended for one game.

Both Quentin and Hairston were fined an undisclosed amount, and both are appealing their suspensions. Both are starting in left field for their respective teams Friday night. Neither Greinke nor Matt Kemp, the other two players ejected, will be suspended.

For the best interests of both teams, MLB suggested to Quentin that he drop the appeal, and it was reported that he would. Yesterday, he did exactly that, and he will be suspended during the upcoming series.

—–

Tim Federowicz, as expected, was optioned to AAA to clear room on the 25-man roster for the returning Chad Billingsley.

“It’s tough. It’s one of those things as a young player. I have options left, and that’s just the way it is,” Federowicz said before Tuesday’s game. “You need some protection at the catchers spot if someone were to get hurt. We only had two on the roster, so they figured they had to do something.”

Ramon Hernandez will now serve as A.J. Ellis‘ backup, but give me Timmy every day of the week and twice on Sundays.

—–

Shawn Tolleson was recalled from AAA to replace the injured Greinke.

His stay on the team depends on what the Dodgers decide to do with Ted Lilly…

…and speaking of the devil, Lilly refused an assignment to continue rehabbing in the minors.

The Dodgers on Saturday asked Lilly to continue his Minor League rehab assignment with two more starts and he declined. He can’t be sent out without his permission and he declared himself healthy and ready to pitch in the Major Leagues.

The club disagrees.

“We laid out a plan and, obviously, he just didn’t like the plan,” said manager Don Mattingly, who put Chris Capuano in the starting rotation, and not Lilly, to replace the injured Zack Greinke. “From a baseball standpoint, we felt he wasn’t quite ready for what we want him to do, to start.”

“We laid out a plan and Teddy doesn’t want to be part of the plan. It’s out of my hands. We didn’t feel he was ready to pitch at the Major League level. For me, it’s a baseball decision. It’s nothing personal in any way, shape or form. We’re giving him our baseball thoughts, what we think is best for him and the team.”

In two rehab starts between the A+ and AAA levels, Lilly has a 7.50 ERA in 12 innings. Combine that with a horrible Spring Training and it’s hard to disagree with the team here.

But besides his performance why do they want to keep him in the minors, right? Well, Chris Capuano will make the start Tuesday in place of the injured Greinke.

Capuano has pitched two games in relief, including Thursday night directly following Greinke after he broke his left collarbone in a brawl against the Padres. In 2⅔ innings, Capuano allowed only two hits, a walk, and no runs, with four strikeouts. Capuano was 12-12 with a 3.72 ERA in 33 starts for the Dodgers in 2012.

So basically there’s no room in the rotation for Lilly, and Capuano is the right choice here.

—–

The Dodgers signed first baseman Sean Burroughs to a minor-league deal. Frankly, it was surprising to find out he was even still in baseball.

Just minor-league depth though.

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Greg Zakwin is the founder of the site Plaschke Thy Sweater Is Argyle. Follow him on Twitter @ArgyledPlaschke.

Zack Greinke has a broken left collarbone because Carlos Quentin is an imbecile.

The initial timetable is eight weeks following surgery, and Greinke has traveled back to LA to visit with team doctor Neal ElAttrache and go under the knife.

A CT scan of the left clavicle showed that Greinke needs a rod placed to stabilize and align the fracture. The surgery will be performed Saturday by team physicians Dr. ElAttrache and Dr. John Itamura, at White Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles.

This whole situation was just … unnecessary and terrible for the Dodgers. Quentin just has to walk 90 feet to first.

—–

Hanley Ramirez is progressing with his rehab following surgery on his torn thumb ligament suffered during the World Baseball Classic, as he had his cast removed.

“He’s actually been able to do quite a bit of baseball stuff. Hopefully that will shorten the timetable for when he comes back, to be sharper,” said manager Don Mattingly.

Ramirez isn’t what he used to be, but compared to what the Dodgers are currently trotting out on the left side of the infield, he would be a savior.

—–

The heart ailment that has felled Kenley Jansen numerous times over the last couple of seasons is now fully healed, and Jansen does not have to worry about a recurrence.

“It was a fairly successful operation to begin with, but it was very successful on him,” said Stan Conte, the Dodgers’ head of medical services. “His conditioning has improved, which, I think, is a direct reflection of the surgery. Now, he has a normal heart.”

“When I got an a-fib, my heart rate was like 200,” Jansen said. “It’s crazy. It’s beating quick and out of rhythm, and you get tired. That’s the scary part, that you’re tired. You feel like you’re running all the time.”

“It’s finally fixed,” Jansen, 25, said with a smile.

Excellent news for Kenley both on and off the field.

—–

Chad Billingsley‘s return to The Show from an injured finger on his pitching hand went pretty well, as he went six in his first start of the season. He fanned three and allowed eight baserunners.

Most importantly though, Chad’s elbow, finger, and groin did not give him trouble, and the bit of rust was to be expected considering he hadn’t pitched in a major-league game since late August of last year.

—–

Ted Lilly went six in a rehab start with the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes.

He seems to be close to “ready”.

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Greg Zakwin is the founder of the site Plaschke Thy Sweater Is Argyle. Follow him on Twitter @ArgyledPlaschke.

Aaron Harang was traded to the Rockies in exchange for catcher Ramon Hernandez and cash. Chad has more on the deal here.

It was just a matter of time before the Dodgers traded one of the Harang/Chris Capuano to help clear a crowded pen and open up a spot on the 25-man roster for the soon-to-return Chad Billingsley.

Hernandez will serve as the backup to A.J. Ellis in all likelihood, which would push Tim Federowicz back to AAA, but I’d prefer to have the younger player with upside.

—–

The Dodgers released non-roster invitee Kevin Gregg.

A former closer who couldn’t find a big league job as a free agent over the winter, Gregg signed a Minor League contract with the Dodgers that did not have an opt-out clause. Earlier last week, Gregg said he felt there was a mutual “understanding” that the club would release him to find another job if there wasn’t room on the Major League roster.

With three extra starters (Aaron Harang, Chris Capuano and Ted Lilly) still candidates for trade, the Dodgers were hoping to have Gregg pitch regularly at Triple-A Albuquerque to be ready when they needed him.

Gregg had been in limbo since not making the team out of Spring Training, as he had been assigned to the minors but did not want to pitch in the minors.

After his solid spring, he now has an opportunity to catch on with a team, and thankfully that team will not be the Dodgers.

—–

The team also released Cole St. Clair, P.J. Phillips, and Joe Becker, per Matt Eddy of Baseball America.

The only noteworthy name in that troika is St. Clair, who had some heavy buzz around him following three excellent campaigns from 2008-2010 when he was whiffing over 11 per nine and had a K/BB ratio that was hovering around 4/1.

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Greg Zakwin is the founder of the site Plaschke Thy Sweater Is Argyle. Follow him on Twitter @ArgyledPlaschke.