Howie Kendrick reports improvement; Yasiel Puig could return this weekend

Dodgers second baseman Howie Kendrick scores on a single by catcher Yasmani Grandal during the second inning of a game on April 18 against the Colorado Rockies.

Columnist

June 5, 2015 6:48 PM PT

His knee feeling considerably better than it did a day earlier, second baseman Howie Kendrick was hopeful he could avoid the disabled list.

“Hopefully, it’s just a couple days,” Kendrick said. “We’ll see.”

While Kendrick continued to receive treatment Friday, sidelined outfielder Yasiel Puig was preparing to play nine innings for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga in the second game of a minor-league rehabilitation assignment.

Manager Don Mattingly didn’t rule out the possibility that Puig could return to the Dodgers this weekend.

“Anything is possible,” Mattingly said.

Kendrick was injured Wednesday night in Colorado. He didn’t play Thursday in the series opener against the Cardinals and was out of the lineup again Friday.

Kendrick said his knee felt less stiff when he woke up Friday morning, sparing him a likely trip to the DL.

“It’s very important for me to be on the field to try to help us win,” he said. “For me, I don’t like not playing. I want to have the opportunity to be out there every day.”

Kendrick underwent an MRI examination on his knee that revealed no structural damage.

“Little things like this happen throughout the season,” he said. “I’m happy it’s nothing more major.”