Ryu close to being named starter for U.S. opener Sunday in San Diego

Hyun-Jin Ryu is one successful bullpen session from being named the Dodgers starter in the U.S. opener Sunday night in San Diego.

The second-year pitcher injured his big toe running the bases in the second of a two-game series against the Diamondbacks in Australia, bringing into question his ability to start in place of the injured Clayton Kershaw Sunday. Ryu will test the toe in a bullpen session Friday, after which the Dodgers will make their final determination about his status for Sunday.

“He looks positive,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. “With that being said, he’s going to throw a pen (Friday), so we can’t really say 100 percent where we’re going to go until we find out how that goes.”

If Ryu can’t go, Dan Haren is available to start on Sunday after he threw a successful bullpen on Thursday.