Dodgers 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.