Dodgers Rotation

The rotation was not supposed to be carousel material, but here the Dodgers are, likely having to make another an unexpected early move. Making his first start of the season after Zack Greinke's fractured collarbone, Chris Capuano left Tuesday's game against the Padres after two-plus innings with a strained calf. Meanwhile, at the same time Ted Lilly was throwing five innings in a rehab start he felt he really didn't need to make. Capuano was uncertain about the severity of his strain and did not think it significant, but is scheduled to have an MRI on Thursday, which is a travel day. If nothing else, this would appear to buy the Dodgers some time in their one-too-many-starters rotation dilemma.

Hanley Ramirez moved a big step closer to rejoining the Dodgers when he started at shortstop Saturday for the team's Class-A affiliate in Rancho Cucamonga. And Ramirez, who hasn't played since tearing a ligament in his right thumb during the World Baseball Classic five weeks ago, made an immediate contribution finishing one for three with two runs batted in and handling eighth chances, including three double plays, in six innings. Ramirez is expected to play for the Quakes on Sunday but Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly said the timetable for Ramirez's return to the majors would be set by Stan Conte , the team's vice president for medical services.

Your National League leader in runs batted in: Andre Ethier. "It's a neat thing," Ethier said. Ethier jumped ahead of Albert Pujols and Ryan Ludwick of the St. Louis Cardinals, with three runs batted in Sunday giving him 16 in the Dodgers' 13 games this season. In the six-game homestand that concluded Sunday, Ethier hit .391 and drove in 12 runs.

The rotation was not supposed to be carousel material, but here the Dodgers are, likely having to make another an unexpected early move. Making his first start of the season after Zack Greinke's fractured collarbone, Chris Capuano left Tuesday's game against the Padres after two-plus innings with a strained calf. Meanwhile, at the same time Ted Lilly was throwing five innings in a rehab start he felt he really didn't need to make. Capuano was uncertain about the severity of his strain and did not think it significant, but is scheduled to have an MRI on Thursday, which is a travel day. If nothing else, this would appear to buy the Dodgers some time in their one-too-many-starters rotation dilemma.

Perhaps a four-man rotation is not the solution after all. The Dodgers might consider scrapping their new pitching plan after Chan Ho Park was chased in the fourth inning Sunday afternoon in an 8-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals before 36,337 at Busch Stadium. Park (13-10) was pounded a day after James Baldwin also struggled working on three days' rest, giving up two home runs among eight hits and seven earned runs in 3 2/3 innings.

NEW YORK -- After throwing a 40-pitch bullpen session Friday, sidelined starter Ted Lilly thinks he might be in position to help the Dodgers soon. Lilly thinks one of his close friends would be able to help them too — that is, if they can agree to a trade with the Chicago Cubs. Lilly played with Dodgers trade target Ryan Dempster from 2007 to 2010. The Dodgers have proposed a deal for Dempster. "Obviously, he's a very good pitcher," Lilly said. "He's one of the best teammates I've ever had. " Lilly has told Dempster about his team.

The reason the Dodgers went from nine victories over a recent 11-game stretch to being swept by the Angels at Dodger Stadium was obvious. But Manager Joe Torre had trouble pointing the finger of blame. "Our two starters, they're two kids," Torre said. "I can't say I'm disappointed, because it's their first time doing this. I certainly don't want to put the onus of responsibility on their shoulders because that's not the right thing to do." A day after fan favorite John Ely dropped his second consecutive decision, the clock might have struck midnight on fellow rookie right-hander Carlos Monasterios, who lasted only 2 2/3 innings in a 6-5 defeat that sealed the Angels' first sweep at Dodger Stadium.

In search of offense, a continuing story … Look at the Dodgers rotation and you probably figure that should be the team weakness. A bunch of .500-looking pitchers, currently minus ace Clayton Kershaw. But the Dodgers' rotation has a collective 3.54 ERA, third lowest in baseball. Lower than the Giants, Cardinals, Brewers and Phillies. They keep them in games. The problem has continued to be a horrifically disappointing offense. It is there where they continue to hover among the lower five teams in baseball in most every significant category: runs and RBI (26 th )

The Dodgers gave center fielder Matt Kemp his first day off this season, benching him for Wednesday's game. Kemp is batting .185 overall and .053 with runners in scoring position, with 17 strikeouts in 54 at-bats. Manager Don Mattingly watched as Kemp took early batting practice for the second time in three days. Mattingly and Kemp each said the center fielder has no injury issues, with his surgically repaired shoulder or otherwise. "There's nothing wrong with me," Kemp said.

The Dodgers acquired a starting pitcher from the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday, but it wasn't Cliff Lee. They instead traded for Joe Blanton. The Dodgers will send the Phillies a player to be named later. Blanton, 31, figures to move into the Dodgers rotation and replace rookie Stephen Fife. Blanton is 8-9 with a 4.59 earned-run average this season. His 22 home runs allowed are tied for most in the National League with Mike Minor of the Atlanta Braves. Blanton is 81-71 with a  4.35 ERA over nine major league seasons.

Now it's official. Now the entire Dodgers' organization is in serious trouble. Players, coaching staff, management, grounds crew, guys hawking peanuts. Clayton Kershaw got rocked. Stunning but true, Kershaw gave up three home runs as the Dodgers fell, 7-2, to the lowly San Diego Padres on Wednesday night before a Dodger Stadium crowd of 52,393, losing their fourth consecutive game. The victory gave the Padres their first three-game sweep at Dodger Stadium since 2006, and the Dodgers fell below .500 to 7-8. There was no early indication that Kershaw was going to have an off night.

The Dodgers gave center fielder Matt Kemp his first day off this season, benching him for Wednesday's game. Kemp is batting .185 overall and .053 with runners in scoring position, with 17 strikeouts in 54 at-bats. Manager Don Mattingly watched as Kemp took early batting practice for the second time in three days. Mattingly and Kemp each said the center fielder has no injury issues, with his surgically repaired shoulder or otherwise. "There's nothing wrong with me," Kemp said.

The aftermath of the Dodgers' losing Zack Greinke to a fractured collarbone Thursday will take a while to sort out, though I would have paid good money to hear what the emotional Ned Colletti honestly had to say after the game. For now, all the Dodgers know that Greinke is headed to the disabled list. Maybe for six weeks, maybe twice that. A medical report is expected later Friday. Meanwhile, though, the Dodgers have a fifth spot in their rotation to fill. The hard reality. And with the trade of Aaron Harang , those three extra starters they had in spring camp are down to Ted Lilly and Chris Capuano.

PHOENIX - The Dodgers did not play a game Monday, but right-hander Aaron Harang threw three innings in a minor league game, giving up only a second-inning double. He threw 45 pitches, getting more efficient each inning. Harang is vying for a rotation position, but barring an injury or blowup, the Dodgers seem to prefer five others and Harang could become trade bait. The Baltimore Orioles and Milwaukee Brewers each had a scout watching Monday's outing. Extra bases The Dodgers, even without a hit from either Matt Kemp or Carl Crawford , lead all teams with a .398 on-base percentage in spring exhibitions and top National League clubs with a .314 batting average, 45 walks and an on-base-plus-slugging percentage of .853.

On Thursday, the last of the Dodgers' 2013 starting pitching club made his first appearance. Ted Lilly, on the mound for the Dodgers for the first time since May 23, went two innings in relief of Clayton Kershaw in the Dodgers' 10-8 victory over the Angels at Camelback Ranch. It was mostly of the encouraging variety. Lilly gave up a solo homer to his second batter, Howie Kendrick, but otherwise retired his other six batters. He did not walk a hitter and struck out one. Still, for someone who got off to a terrific start last year (5-1, 3.14 earned-run average)

— Chad Billingsley's uncertain health status was one of the reasons Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti cited for entering spring training with eight starting pitchers. But Billingsley said that in his mind, there are no doubts about his elbow. He has already been on the mound about a dozen times since he started his throwing program last month. "Throwing a bullpen [session] and throwing all my pitches, bouncing back for the next one, I have no problems," he said. That he can do this much is a relief to Billingsley, who sat out the final month of the season because of a partially torn elbow ligament and was considered a surgery candidate.

Hanley Ramirez moved a big step closer to rejoining the Dodgers when he started at shortstop Saturday for the team's Class-A affiliate in Rancho Cucamonga. And Ramirez, who hasn't played since tearing a ligament in his right thumb during the World Baseball Classic five weeks ago, made an immediate contribution finishing one for three with two runs batted in and handling eighth chances, including three double plays, in six innings. Ramirez is expected to play for the Quakes on Sunday but Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly said the timetable for Ramirez's return to the majors would be set by Stan Conte , the team's vice president for medical services.

With their season on the line, the Dodgers will send their $100,000 pitcher to the mound for Game 5 of the National League Championship Series. Manager Joe Torre announced on Monday that Vicente Padilla would be moved ahead of Clayton Kershaw in the rotation and start the Dodgers' next game, which will be played on Wednesday at Citizens Bank Park. Signed by the Dodgers in August for a prorated share of the major league minimum, Padilla has allowed only one run in 14 1/3 innings over his two starts this postseason.

Look, just think of how bad it might have been. The Dodgers could easily be looking a winter of Clayton Kershaw and Chad Billingsley both coming back from off-season surgery. Now with Billingsley looking like he will not need Tommy John surgery, the Dodgers could actually go to camp with six veteran starting pitchers -- Josh Beckett, Chris Capuano, Aaron Harang, Ted Lilly, Kershaw and Billingsley. And it still might not be enough. It shouldn't be. Lilly is coming off arthroscopic shoulder surgery and will be 37 in January.

The Dodgers' position in the standings hasn't changed Chad Billingsley's mind about how special his team could be - and he wants to be a part of it next season. "I really don't want to miss next year," Billingsley said. Billingsley hasn't pitched since Aug. 24 because of a partially torn ligament in his throwing elbow. He has started a throwing program that will help him decide whether to undergo reconstructive surgery this winter. If Billingsley has an operation, he will miss the entire 2013 season.