Predicting a Dodgers’ reliever is about to suffer a boo-boo

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Can you feel it coming? A tweaked elbow, maybe some shoulder tendinitis, a really bad stuffy nose?

The Dodgers are near activating two badly needed relievers, Hong-Chih Kuo and Ronnie Belisario. Both are expected to be with the team sometime next week, possibly as soon as Tuesday.

That means two guys have to be moved to make room on the 25-man roster.

Russ Ortiz, thanks for stopping by. He seems the easy choice. He doesn’t have an opt-out clause in his contract and it’s unlikely anyone else would want to make room for him. So it’s either send him down, or simply release him.

The second reliever to make room is a tad trickier. Jonathan Broxton and Ramon Troncoso are obvious locks, and seemingly so are Jeff Weaver and currently struggling George Sherrill.

That leaves a final choice between Ramon Ortiz and Carlos Monasterios.

Ramon Ortiz can opt out if the Dodgers try to send him down, and despite his 7.21 ERA, only two of his seven outings have been poor. And he is coming off a terrific spring.

Monasterios has been used so judiciously (he basically had never pitched above single A before) it’s hard to made any definitive conclusion on him. After pitching two scoreless innings Saturday, he has appeared in four games and thrown 5 1/3 innings (4.15 ERA).

But Monasterios was picked up in the Rule 5 draft, so he has to remain on the roster all season or be offered back to the Phillies. And general managers are typically reluctant to offer back one of their discoveries.

Of course, if either Monasterios or Ramon Ortiz should suffer an injury, they could go on the disabled list. And there, magically, is your second spot.

Kuo is scheduled to pitch again Sunday for single-A San Bernardino. With his Dr. Frankenstein version of an elbow, it’s impossible to know if, and how long, he can be counted upon. Anything from him are bonus points.

He probably will join the team Tuesday for the start of their upcoming nine-game trip in Cincinnati. Belisario, still in extended camp back in Phoenix after missing most of camp with a visa issue, could join him.

Feeling an ouchie coming on.

__ Steve Dilbeck