LOS ANGELES – Another day, another player on the disabled list.
This time, the Dodgers put outfielder Scott Van Slyke on the DL because of what the team called bursitis in his left shoulder. Van Slyke becomes the 15th different Dodgers player to go on the disabled list this season.
The team also sent infielder Justin Sellers back to Triple-A Albuquerque and called up right-handed pitcher Chris Winthrow and outfielder Alex Castellanos.
Van Slyke was hitting .221 in 24 games but was one of the few players providing the Dodgers with power. His six home runs rank second only to Adrian Gonzalez (eight) on the team.
But Van Slyke hurt his left shoulder trying to make a diving catch May 25 and had been experiencing discomfort in recent days. The Dodgers worried it might require surgery, but an MRI on Tuesday indicated that only rest is required.
The Dodgers have used the disabled list 20 times this season.
“Right now, it’s just what we’re dealing with,” manager Don Mattingly said. “We’ve got to keep looking forward to that day and try to put wins on the board and hope that we’re going to get Hanley (Ramirez) back, get Matt (Kemp) back and we’re going to get our guys back. We’ve got to hang and try to put something together.”
Ramirez and Kemp are dealing with hamstring injuries. Ramirez hopes to return in the next several days, and Kemp could begin a rehab assignment in the minors by this weekend.
Winthrow’s first appearance will mark his major-league debut. He was 4-0 with a 1.93 ERA in 22 appearances for the Isotopes. Castellanos, who played in 16 games last season for the Dodgers, was hitting .270 with nine home runs, 28 RBIs and eight stolen bases in 43 games at Albuquerque.
Winthrow’s presence will give the Dodgers bullpen a break. Reliever Ronald Belisario has soreness in his right collarbone, and Mattingly said he hoped to avoid using him in Tuesday night’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
One other update: Pitcher Ted Lilly, who is on the disabled list recovering from a sprained neck, had an epidural injection Tuesday morning. He was told to rest for 48 hours before resuming any baseball activity.
