MRI exam shows Kuroda has tendinitis

CINCINNATI -- Diagnosed on Wednesday with tendinitis and an impingement in his right shoulder, Dodgers pitcher Hiroki Kuroda was scratched from his scheduled start Saturday at Dodger Stadium against the Cleveland Indians.

Right-hander Chan Ho Park will start in place of Kuroda.

Kuroda, 3-6 with a 4.04 earned-run average, underwent an MRI exam Wednesday in Los Angeles, one day after the Dodgers put opening-day starter Brad Penny on the 15-day disabled list because of inflammation and mild tendinitis in his right shoulder.

Manager Joe Torre said he hadn’t spoken to General Manager Ned Colletti about putting Kuroda on the DL but said that if the move was made, Kuroda would be replaced by a reliever.

Kuroda, who received a cortisone injection, is scheduled to resume throwing Saturday.

“It’s manageable,” Torre said. “I think with both he and Brad Penny, you can pretty much plan when you’re going to see them again.”

There would be no drawback for the Dodgers to put Kuroda on the DL. The move could be retroactive to June 13, meaning Kuroda would be eligible to be activated June 28. Because the Dodgers don’t play Monday, the rotation could be arranged so that the only start Kuroda doesn’t make is Saturday.

No mas for Nomar

Nomar Garciaparra hit a two-run home run and played four innings at shortstop for triple-A Las Vegas in the first game of his minor league rehab assignment Tuesday night but woke up Wednesday with discomfort in the strained right calf that landed him on the 60-day disabled list.

Garciaparra didn’t play Wednesday and is scheduled to rest today. Dodgers trainer Stan Conte said Garciaparra told him that he should be ready to resume playing Friday. Conte added that Garciaparra could play through the weekend, leaving the status of Carne Asada Sunday with Nomar Garciaparra at Dodger Stadium uncertain. Team spokesman Josh Rawitch said baseball would take priority over charity and that the event would be rescheduled if necessary.

Garciaparra is eligible to be reinstated from the DL on June 25.

Patience not the problem

The Dodgers’ seven wins from May 23 through Tuesday were tied for second-to-last in the majors, largely because the 70 runs they scored in that span were the fewest in baseball.

But Dodgers hitters are continuing to abide by Torre’s philosophy of taking as many pitches as possible.

From opening day to May 22, the Dodgers ranked 10th in the majors in runs scored and were averaging 3.87 pitches per plate appearance, according to STATS LLC. Since May 23, they’ve been averaging 3.83.

Park ready for start

Park hasn’t thrown in the bullpen since his season-worst outing Sunday, when he gave up five runs in 1 1/3 innings in Detroit, but said he was scheduled for a side session today.

Park was unavailable to pitch because of a pinch in his shoulder in the two days leading up to his Detroit outing. He said his shoulder didn’t bother him in the loss to the Tigers.

“I’ll be ready for anything,” Park said. “I feel bad because two guys are down, two of the best guys.”

Short hops

Shortstop Chin-lung Hu was cleared by an eye specialist to resume playing for Las Vegas but is still complaining of blurred vision in his right eye, Conte said. . . . Catcher Gary Bennett, who is on the disabled list, is feeling increased pain in his sore foot and will be examined today.

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dylan.hernandez@latimes.com