Although the Dodgers are the clear class of the National League West with a lineup that is even more productive than it was predicted to be and a rotation, bullpen and bench that have all come through for the most part, one concern is injuries. The club already has five players on the 15-day disabled list, including three -- RHP Hiroki Kuroda, INF Doug Mientkiewicz and RHP Cory Wade -- who were on the active roster on opening day. Both Kuroda and Wade are expected back by the end of the month, but Mientkiewicz won't be back for several months. What the Dodgers haven't had is nagging injuries that have kept anyone out of the lineup for a couple of days here and there. More important, perhaps, SS Rafael Furcal hasn't had any problems with his surgically repaired lower back, possibly due to the fact he is being rested once a week.
PLAYER NEWS: --RHP Hiroki Kuroda, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a mild left oblique strain, played catch for the second day in a row. He will now travel with the team to Houston and is expected to try to throw off a mound for the first time soon, possibly as early as Tuesday. Kuroda is eligible to come off the DL on Wednesday but isn't expected to do so because he will need at least a couple of bullpen sessions and a minor league rehabilitation start.
--RHP Cory Wade, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday because of bursitis in his shoulder, felt much better Sunday. As a result, an MRI exam planned for Monday was scrapped, and Wade instead will head directly for extended spring training in Glendale, Ariz. He is expected to pitch in at least a couple of games there before possibly coming off the DL as soon as he becomes eligible on April 27.
--LHP Scott Elbert picked up his first major league win, albeit by scorer's discretion, Sunday against the Rockies. Elbert pitched 2 2/3 innings on a day when James McDonald couldn't get through the fifth despite a 4-0 lead, and Elbert also delivered his first major league hit, an RBI double in a seven-run Dodgers fifth. Elbert was the Dodgers' first-round pick in the 2004 amateur draft, but his development was delayed by a 2007 shoulder injury that kept him on the shelf for more than a year.
MEDICAL WATCH:
INF Doug Mientkiewicz (dislocated right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list April 17. He will have surgery April 20 and will miss three to five months.
RHP Cory Wade (right shoulder bursitis) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 12. He could return as soon as he's eligible.
RHP Hiroki Kuroda (strained left oblique) went on the 15-day disabled list April 11. He will need to make a rehab start before rejoining the Dodgers.
RHP Claudio Vargas (right elbow tendinitis) went on the 60-day disabled list retroactive to April 6.
RHP Jason Schmidt (right shoulder surgery) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 30. He threw in extended spring training on April 8 and April 13, and he will pitch there at least once more before starting a minor league rehab assignment.
ROTATION:
LHP Randy Wolf
RHP Chad Billingsley
LHP Clayton Kershaw
LHP Eric Stults
RHP James McDonald
BULLPEN:
RHP Jonathan Broxton (closer)
LHP Hong-Chih Kuo
RHP Guillermo Mota
LHP Will Ohman
RHP Ronald Belisario
RHP Ramon Troncoso
LHP Scott Elbert
CATCHERS:
Russell Martin
Brad Ausmus
INFIELDERS:
1B James Loney
2B Orlando Hudson
SS Rafael Furcal
3B Casey Blake
INF Juan Castro
INF Mark Loretta
INF Blake DeWitt
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Manny Ramirez
CF Matt Kemp
RF Andre Ethier
OF Juan Pierre
