Capuano could be headed for DL due to calf strain
The starting-pitching depth that the Los Angeles Dodgers tried to hold onto is slipping away.
In the past week, the Dodgers have traded one starter (Aaron Harang), lost another for two months due to a broken collarbone (Zack Greinke) and now might have lost another to an injury.
Left-hander Chris Capuano stepped into Greinke's spot in the rotation Tuesday, but he allowed four runs in the first inning against the San Diego Padres, then pulled up lame while covering first base on a play in the second inning. Capuano stayed in long enough to walk the leadoff hitter in the third inning before he was pulled from the game. The Padres went on to win 9-2.
The preliminary diagnosis is a strained left calf. Capuano is tentatively scheduled to undergo an MRI exam Wednesday to determine the severity of the injury, but he seems headed for the disabled list. If so, the Dodgers likely will promote a reliever from Triple-A to shore up a bullpen that had to pick up seven innings Tuesday.
With off days Thursday and next Monday, the urgency to replace Capuano in the rotation is not immediate. If the calf injury is going to sideline him beyond that, though, the door might be opened for Ted Lilly.
Lilly and the Dodgers have sparred over his status. The Dodgers placed Lilly on the disabled list to start the season, contending he needed to build up arm strength after getting limited innings this spring in his return from shoulder surgery last fall. Lilly made two rehab starts in the minors but balked at making any more, saying his shoulder was healthy.
Lilly gave in and pitched again for Class A Rancho Cucamonga on Tuesday, throwing 81 pitches over five innings and allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and a walk. Over three minor league starts, Lilly has a 6.55 ERA, and he has allowed five home runs in 17 innings.
