--RHP Jason Schmidt finally began his minor league rehabilitation assignment on Tuesday night, throwing 94 pitches in five-plus innings for high Class A Inland Empire against Stockton. Although the next step won't be determined until after Schmidt throws a bullpen session on Thursday at the Dodgers' spring training complex in Glendale, Ariz., it is clear that Schmidt will use the entire 30 days to which pitchers' rehabs are limited, something manager Joe Torre confirmed to reporters before Wednesday night's game at Philadelphia. Schmidt hasn't pitched in the majors since undergoing shoulder surgery in June 2007.
--CF Matt Kemp, who was widely criticized over the past couple of seasons for his poor decisions on the basepaths, made a daring decision Wednesday night that led to a critical run for the Dodgers. Kemp, who was on second with Casey Blake on first and one out in the fourth, never stopped running when Randy Wolf laid down a sacrifice bunt and wound up sliding into home just ahead of the tag, giving the Dodgers a 5-1 lead. Kemp also made a sensational diving catch in center field on a night when he went 2-for-4 and also drew his first walk in 10 games. --RF Andre Ethier, who sizzled in April, continued to struggle through a horrendous May slump, going 0-for-5 for the third time in the past four games. Ethier has two hits in his past 27 at-bats, and he also grounded into a double play for the 10th time this season, killing a first-and-third, one-out opportunity in the sixth. In his past seven games, his average has dropped more than 50 points, from .327 to .273.
MEDICAL WATCH:
LHP Hong-Chih Kuo (left elbow strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 30.
RHP Hiroki Kuroda (strained left oblique) went on the 15-day disabled list April 11. He threw a bullpen session May 12, but he remained at least a week away from making a rehab start.
RHP Jason Schmidt (right shoulder surgery) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 30. He was still pitching in extended spring training as of early May. He began a rehab assignment with Class A Inland Empire on May 12.
RHP Claudio Vargas (right elbow tendinitis) went on the 60-day disabled list retroactive to April 6. He might return as soon as he's eligible.
INF Doug Mientkiewicz (dislocated right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list April 17, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 30. He had surgery April 20, and he is unlikely to return before September.
ROTATION:
LHP Randy Wolf
RHP Chad Billingsley
LHP Clayton Kershaw
LHP Eric Stults
RHP Jeff Weaver
BULLPEN:
RHP Jonathan Broxton (closer)
RHP Cory Wade
RHP Guillermo Mota
LHP Will Ohman
RHP Ronald Belisario
RHP James McDonald
RHP Ramon Troncoso
LHP Brent Leach
CATCHERS:
Russell Martin
Brad Ausmus
INFIELDERS:
1B James Loney
2B Orlando Hudson
SS Rafael Furcal
3B Casey Blake
INF Juan Castro
INF Mark Loretta
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Juan Pierre
CF Matt Kemp
RF Andre Ethier
OF Xavier Paul
