Josh Beckett was the losing pitcher Sunday in the Cubs’ 7-3 win over the Dodgers. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday. (David Crane/Staff photographer)

MILWAUKEE — Josh Beckett‘s season might not be over, but he won’t rejoin the Dodgers’ starting rotation for at least a couple weeks after going on the disabled list Friday.

An MRI on Beckett’s left hip Thursday revealed a recurrence of left hip impingement, as well as a related groin strain. The Dodgers retroactively dated Beckett’s DL stint to Monday, so he is eligible to come off as soon as August 19. That won’t happen.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said he’s optimistic that Beckett can return before the end of the regular season; there are seven weeks left on the schedule. Newly acquired right-hander Roberto Hernandez will take Beckett’s place in the meantime.

Hernandez is starting against the Milwaukee Brewers tonight.

“At this point we’re talking about 10 days or two weeks of rest and then starting the progression,” Mattingly said. “I anticipate that (Beckett) will be able to pitch again this year.”

Beckett insisted he was healthy after his last start, a loss to the Chicago Cubs on Sunday in which he allowed three runs in four innings. Beckett needed 94 pitches just to get through that outing.

Beckett is not with the Dodgers on their current road trip to Milwaukee and Atlanta.

“(The injury) sounds like it’s a lot like Clayton’s,” Mattingly said. “It’s the same type of area that Clayton had a few years back when he ended up missing 12 days or 8 or 9 days, and starting once and then it kind of came back and he missed another 9 days, then he was good. I’m hoping that’s the case. It’s the same area, it’s the same thing Clayton was feeling. They both talked about the hip things.”