Paco Rodriguez has setback, won’t throw simulated game Friday.

Paco Rodriguez mugshotDodgers manager Don Mattingly said that Paco Rodriguez was “a little sore” yesterday in the area of his strained left teres major muscle. His simulated game previously scheduled for Friday was canceled.

“He’ll have a couple of flat grounds and bullpens, so we’ve been set back a little bit with him,” Mattingly said.

Rodriguez hasn’t pitched since suffering the injury August 3, nearly five weeks ago. There are 23 days remaining in the regular season.

“I think that’s what we fight, is time,” Mattingly said. “We talk about him and (Clayton Kershaw) having the same thing. Kersh was like six weeks. (Rodriguez) has been trying to push the envelope a little bit to get back. I still think there’s time, but obviously he’s going to have to be able to get off a mound, throw sim games, to be able to help us.”

Rodriguez has allowed five runs in 10 ⅓ innings this season, all in relief. If healthy, he would join J.P. Howell as the only left-handers in the Dodgers’ bullpen.

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About J.P. Hoornstra

J.P. Hoornstra covers the Dodgers, Angels and Major League Baseball for the Orange County Register, Los Angeles Daily News, Long Beach Press-Telegram, Torrance Daily Breeze, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News, San Bernardino Sun, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Whittier Daily News and Redlands Daily Facts. Before taking the beat in 2012, J.P. covered the NHL for four years. UCLA gave him a degree once upon a time; when he graduated on schedule, he missed getting Arnold Schwarzenegger's autograph on his diploma by five months.