Hyun-Jin Ryu confident he’ll pitch for Dodgers in playoffs

Hyun-Jin Ryu said Friday he doesn’t know when he’ll start throwing again, but is certain he’ll be ready to pitch in the playoffs.

“I’m pretty confident I will be able to come back by then,” the left-hander said through an interpreter.

Ryu, out since Sept. 12 with problems in his left shoulder, underwent a MRI exam and received a cortisone injection Monday in Los Angeles. He hasn’t resumed throwing, but said he is hoping to do so in the next day or two. He said he doesn’t know when he’ll be ready to pitch in a game.

With Ryu unavailable, the Dodgers have a vacancy in their rotation. Carlos Frias replaced Ryu on his last turn, but was historically awful in a loss to the Colorado Rockies.

Dan Haren threw a bullpen session Friday, which figures to line him up to start Monday in the series opener against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium. The Giants trail the Dogders by 2 1/2 games in the NL West.

Haren is also an option to start the Sunday series finale against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

The game Haren doesn’t start will be a bullpen game.

Manager Don Mattingly said that when Haren starts will depend on how the bullpen is used Friday and Saturday.