Dodgers relief pitcher Will Ohman returned to Los Angeles and was in the clubhouse Friday before the Dodgers played the Seattle Mariners.

Unfortunately his return to the mound is very much uncertain at the moment. Ohman left a Triple A rehab assignment earlier this week after experiencing pain in his throwing arm, and a subsequent MRI revealed tendinitis.

“We’ll shut him down for a period of time,” Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. “We’ll look at him again Monday and by then we’ll have a definite idea for what the plan will be.”

On a more positive note, Jason Schmidt pitches in Triple-A tonight with no pitch count restrictions and Claudio Vargas is closing in on a possible return to the club after being sidelined since April 6 with right elbow tendinitis.

“We’re going to have to make some sort of decision on him this coming week.” Torre said of Vargas.

Lastly, Eric Stults threw 40 pitches Thursday and reported mild irritation in his injured left thumb. He’ll throw again Monday, likely up to 60 pitches, with the hope the soreness is no longer an issue.

With Vargas and Stults potentially close to returning, the Dodgers will have to make a decision soon on whether they want to carry 13 pitchers or 12. Torre did not reveal in which direction the club was leaning.

“We’ll have something for you (at a later time)” Torre said