Kuroda could make a start in Houston

Dodgers right-hander Hiroki Kuroda faced 16 batters over three simulated innings Saturday to put him in line to be activated Wednesday to make a start in Houston.

“He didn’t have any hesitation with anything that he was doing,” Manager Joe Torre said.

Kuroda, who hasn’t pitched since June 12 because of tendinitis in his right shoulder, delivered 49 pitches. He finished the session by serving up a home run to Andruw Jones.

“Of course, I didn’t feel the way I do when I’m pitching well,” Kuroda said. “I wanted to throw as much as I could to regain that feeling.”

Kuroda said he was able to use his entire arsenal of pitches without any discomfort but warned that his upcoming start wasn’t set in stone.

“I won’t know until I see how I feel [today],” he said.

Kuroda will be part of a six-man rotation until the All-Star break, in part because Torre figures that Kuroda’s shoulder could use an extra day of rest between starts.

Penny has a ‘new arm’

Brad Penny threw a 70-pitch bullpen session and said he didn’t feel any of the discomfort in his right shoulder that landed him on the disabled list. He said he was confident he would pitch in a game before the All-Star break.

“I threw the ball as hard as I could,” said Penny, who last pitched June 14 in Detroit. “That’s the best I’ve felt in a long time. It feels like I’ve got a new arm.”

Penny said he would travel with the Dodgers to Houston and pitch in a shortened simulated game some time during the four-game series against the Astros.

The Dodgers’ opening-day starter, Penny said his shoulder problems started in spring training. He blamed the pain for the lack of command that contributed to his 5-9 record and 5.88 earned-run average. He said he had serious concerns when he underwent an MRI exam June 16.

“I was worried about my labrum,” he said.

Penny said he wasn’t thinking about how his performance this season could affect his future. He is in the final guaranteed year of his contract, which includes a $9.25-million option for next season that the Dodgers could buy out for $2 million.

“Whatever they want to do,” he said. “I have no control over that.”

LaRoche’s gaffe

Torre made it clear that he didn’t ask Andy LaRoche to bunt with two outs and the bases loaded in the third inning of the Dodgers’ victory over the Angels on Friday night. LaRoche ran into the ball he bunted for the third out of the inning.

“It didn’t work out and it made me look like an idiot,” LaRoche said.

LaRoche said he dropped the bunt because he saw that third baseman Robb Quinlan was playing deep.

Torre later spoke to LaRoche and explained that that wasn’t the right time for such a maneuver.

“It’s one of those things you learn from,” LaRoche said. “I’m glad it didn’t come back to bite us.”

LaRoche said he had never bunted for a hit, even in high school or youth leagues.

Said Torre: “A hell of a time to pull it out of the bag.”

Short hops

Jason Schmidt gave up a run and three hits over 2 2/3 innings for triple-A Las Vegas in the first start of his second minor league rehab assignment. . . . Several Dodgers from the 1970s, including Steve Garvey and Bill Russell, were honored in a pregame ceremony. . . . James Loney began the game hitting a National League-leading .381 in June.

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dylan.hernandez@latimes.com