Elbow Tendinitis Shelves Shaw

The Dodgers put reliever Jeff Shaw on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday because of tendinitis in his pitching elbow, and recalled pitcher Jamie Arnold from triple-A Albuquerque.

The club made the move, retroactive to Tuesday, after an MRI exam revealed elbow inflammation. Shaw has pitched with tendinitis before, but team physician Frank Jobe recommended rest.

Arnold was 4-6 with a 5.06 earned-run average in 15 games for the Dukes. The right-hander, who will be used primarily in middle relief, was 2-4 with a 5.48 ERA in 36 games for the Dodgers last season.

Shaw reluctantly went on the disabled list for the first time in his nine-year career. He is eligible to be activated July 14.

The recently demoted closer hopes rest and rehabilitation helps his elbow improve, and helps him regain his job.

“I didn’t think anything was wrong, but they did an MRI on my elbow and that’s when they saw it,” said Shaw, who underwent the procedure at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Inglewood. “Dr. Jobe said, ‘You can pitch with it, but it’s not going to get any better, so let’s not prolong this thing and drag it out.’ It made sense.”

Shaw has struggled this season. He is 2-4 with an ERA of 8.00, and has blown seven saves in 19 opportunities.

Manager Davey Johnson gave Shaw seven days’ rest at the beginning of the month to rest his tired pitching shoulder, and Shaw said his fastball had more velocity after he returned. Shaw said the longer break should benefit him even more, but he had to convince himself.

“I wrestled with it for three or four days,” said Shaw, who has 136 saves the last three-plus seasons. “In 14 years playing this game [including the minors], I’ve never been on the DL, not even close. It’s something I didn’t want to do, but it may be a blessing in disguise.”

Shaw has received several forms of therapy since Tuesday. He will remain in Los Angeles when the Dodgers begin a nine-game, 10-day trip Friday against the San Francisco Giants, and rejoin the team next Tuesday for the start of a three-game series against the San Diego.

Johnson said he will only use Shaw in “favorable matchups” until he proves himself again.

Shaw is eager do that.

“If I go out and convert a couple [of save opportunities], it’s going to go back to the way it was,” Shaw said. “I’ve been playing long enough to have seen guys go through the same type of thing.”

*

The Dodgers expect to speak Friday with pitcher Orel Hershiser, put on waivers Tuesday, about his plans for the remainder of the season.

The club put the popular 17-year veteran on waivers in order to release him, and that will happen after he clears waivers Friday afternoon. Hershiser, 41, is expected to clear because a team that claims him would be responsible for the remainder of his $2-million salary this season, and a $500,000 buyout of a $2-million contract option next season.

The Dodgers are responsible for Hershiser’s package. Teams can sign Hershiser for the $200,000 big-league minimum after he clears, and the Dodgers must pay the rest.

The Dodgers want Hershiser to remain with the organization if he retires, but he might have to start in a minor-league position.

“We could have sat down and talked about what he want to do with his life [Tuesday], but we weren’t in that position because he didn’t know what he wanted to do,” Managing Partner Bob Daly said. “I did tell him, as a I told him when we [resigned] him . . . we would always love him to be part of the Los Angeles Dodgers. I’d love to see him play a role in the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“But I never make promises to anybody about any job. Every major position of the Los Angeles Dodgers is filled right now. There is no job for him right now. Would I love him to help [General Manager] Kevin [Malone] and the player-personnel staff? Sure. But that’s not where his frame of mind is at right now. That’s something to talk about when he’s ready.”

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ DARREN DREIFORT

(4-6, 4.76 ERA)

vs.

PADRES’ MATT CLEMENT

(6-7, 5.19 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 6

TV--Fox Sports Net 2. Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330)

* Update--Dreifort has losses in his last three starts and has dropped five of six. The right-hander is 0-4 with a save and a 4.21 ERA in 10 appearances against the Padres. Clement has struggled with his command recently. The right-hander has walked 28 in his last six outings, going 1-4 with a 6.47 ERA.