Dodgers closer Takashi Saito will undergo an MRI exam on Monday to find the cause of shoulder tightness that forced him out of Saturday night's game after he struck out the first two batters in the ninth inning.
"It's never good when your closer comes out of a game," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. "I think you have to assume the worst... (but) let's see what happens. I hope he can just rest it for four or five days and (return)." Saito has converted 17 saves in 20 opportunities, nine of them in the Dodgers' past 22 games. This was the 19th time in 39 appearances this season in which he was pitching in a non-save situation, as he came on with the game tied.
Fire-balling setup man Jonathan Broxton would be the obvious fill-in for the closer's role if Saito were lost for any length of time. Torre hinted before Sunday's game that lefty Hong-Chih Kuo, who has been rock-solid out of the bullpen this season, would be a strong candidate to take over Broxton's setup role if Broxton were forced into closer duties.
Saito has been the Dodgers' closer since the summer of 2006, after Eric Gagne had gone down with an injury the first week of the season and Danys Baez had proved too unreliable. Although pitching in only his third major-league season, Saito is 38, and Broxton has long been considered Saito's heir apparent.
DODGERS 9, MARLINS 1: Chad Billingsley turned in a seven-inning masterpiece, striking out a career-high 13 without walking a batter, and the Dodgers' offense finally got untracked, if only for one day Sunday. Matt Kemp went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Nomar Garciaparra went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Luis Maza went 2-for-3 with a well-executed suicide squeeze bunt. The Dodgers drew seven walks, including five in 1 2/3 innings from Andrew Miller.
