Pitcher Vicente Padilla reports no ill effects from first rehab start
Dodgers pitcher Vicente Padilla said Friday that he felt no discomfort after making his first rehabilitation start since being put on the disabled list April 25 because of nerve problems in his throwing arm.
The 32-year-old right-hander from Nicaragua, the Dodgers’ opening-day starter this season, threw three scoreless innings for Class-A Inland Empire on Thursday, giving up one hit and striking out five against High Desert. He threw 37 pitches.
Padilla said his arm felt fine a day later and that he had good control in the game. He’s expected to make two more minor league appearances before returning to the Dodgers.
“I just want to feel secure before I come to the big leagues,” Padilla said through an interpreter. When he was placed on the disabled list, Padilla had started four games and was 1-1 with a 6.65 earned-run average.
Other injuries
Third baseman Casey Blake again did not start Friday night against the Atlanta Braves because of back spasms and remained listed as day-to-day.
Blake, 37, was getting an MRI exam before the game while the Dodgers were taking batting practice, the team said. Manager Joe Torre reported that Blake’s injury “wasn’t any better, any worse today.”
Before the setback, Blake had a nine-game hitting streak during which he batted .306 (11 for 36).
Reliever Jeff Weaver, meanwhile, said he wasn’t able to face any batters after arriving at the mound Thursday night because he had an irritated finger on his throwing hand.
Weaver was called in to start the seventh inning but, after throwing some warmup pitches, left the game. The right-hander said the problem was that “the skin cracked right next to my fingernail, my middle finger on my pitching hand.”
Weaver, 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA in 22 appearances, said he first noticed the problem Wednesday while warming up during the Dodgers’ 14-inning game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
“It’s something that’s not going to get worse, it’s just very tender and kind of burns a bit when I throw,” Weaver said.
“I feel like I can deal with a lot of things that other people can’t, so I had no problem going out there and throwing. But they didn’t want this small thing to affect [my pitching]. I can understand that. We’ll see how fast it can heal.”
As for Friday’s game, Torre said, “I don’t want to use him but there may be a situation” in which Weaver would appear.
“If I have a chance to not pick up a ball I think it will be something where it will heal quickly and I can get back to not having that question,” Weaver said. “So we’ll just see how the game goes.”
Short hops
The Dodgers issued a statement indicating they had settled their reported complaint against comedian Jon Lovitz for alleged nonpayment of $95,400 for season tickets.
“Jon Lovitz has been a friend of the Dodgers for many years and always is welcome at Dodger Stadium,” the team said, adding that it was “pleased that this matter has been resolved very quickly, very amicably.” The Dodgers declined to elaborate.
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