LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Chris Hatcher told coaches he was willing to try to pitch Tuesday night in Texas. Not only did the team not take him up on the offer, but they put him on the 15-day disabled list the next day.
An MRI showed a mildly strained left oblique muscle in Hatcher’s side, he said, and the team needed a roster spot for outfielder Scott Van Slyke, who was activated from the DL and started in left field Wednesday night.
“The oblique is one of those things where, if you don’t get it rest, it’s probably going to get worse,” Hatcher said.
Hatcher joins a long line of Dodgers relievers who have been disabled by injuries so far this season, but the others are all working their way back. Joel Peralta, Paco Rodriguez, Pedro Baez and Brandon League are all in the midst of minor league rehab assignments and figure to join the Dodgers within the next week or so. Rodriguez was scheduled to pitch Wednesday night for Class A Rancho Cucamonga. Peralta and Baez were to pitch Friday for Triple-A Oklahoma City, and League is to pitch Saturday for Oklahoma City.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers played Wednesday’s game with six relievers, one fewer than they prefer to carry. Manager Don Mattingly said the team will call up a pitcher before Thursday’s game, which means one of the Dodgers’ bench players -- Enrique Hernandez or Chris Heisey -- is in jeopardy of being optioned to Triple-A or designated for assignment.
Hatcher, who has made 27 appearances, is 1-4 with two saves and a 6.38 ERA.
