Dave Roberts doesn’t rule out Adrian Gonzalez going on the Dodgers’ disabled list

Dave Roberts exchanged text messages with Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez on Tuesday, and Gonzalez informed his manager his sore lower back was improving. But Roberts kept Gonzalez out of the lineup for Tuesday’s game against the Angels, and could not rule out the possibility that Gonzalez may land on the disabled list.

Gonzalez left Monday’s game when his lower back stiffened up. At 34, midway through his 11th full season in the majors, Gonzalez has never been on the disabled list.

“He’s completely against going on the DL, obviously,” Roberts said. “So right now, we’re going to give it a couple days, and see where we’re at.”

Gonzalez expressed his hope he could be the designated hitter in Anaheim on Thursday. He said the discomfort was caused by nerve irritation.

“They just want me to let it come down, and hope it loosens up,” Gonzalez said. “If everything goes as expected, I’ll be in there on Thursday or Friday.”

Gonzalez appeared to be close to breaking out of a slump. He hit .296 with an .856 on-base-plus-slugging percentage during the first eight games of this homestand. In a lineup marred by inconsistency, the Dodgers rely on Gonzalez.

Gonzalez could become the third Dodger this season, following Carl Crawford and Scott Van Slyke, to require a stint on the disabled list due to a lower-back injury. The team also needs to make a roster move on Wednesday to make room for spot starter Mike Bolsinger.

The Dodgers elected to call up Bolsinger, who had made two starts for triple-A Oklahoma City as he recovered from an oblique strain suffered in March, to aid the rotation. The team is in the midst of a 20-game stretch without a day off.

It is unclear how the Dodgers will clear space on the roster. The team could option relievers like right-hander Pedro Baez or left-hander Adam Liberatore. Or Gonzalez could head to the disabled list for the first time in his career.

“If it was my call, I would go out there and play through it,” Gonzalez said. “But they’re saying it’s early in the year. There’s no need to push it.”