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Good news on Wolf, Beimel

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Times Staff Writer

Some of the Dodgers’ fears were calmed Thursday when it was learned that Randy Wolf’s left shoulder wasn’t seriously damaged and that Joe Beimel’s heart rate had returned to normal, allowing the reliever to be released from Centinela Hospital Medical Center.

Wolf, whose MRI exam revealed nothing more than a left shoulder impingement, could be ready to pitch by the time he is eligible to be activated from the 15-day disabled list July 19. Beimel, who experienced heart palpitations Tuesday and spent two nights in the hospital, is expected to rejoin the Dodgers and be available out of the bullpen today.

“What we’re looking at with Randy is that he should be throwing again by the end of the All-Star break and ready to pitch again, most likely, when his 15 days are up,” Manager Grady Little said.

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Wolf, whose last two seasons were shortened by elbow problems, was relieved by the test results.

“It’s always kind of nerve-racking when you have your first MRI on your shoulder,” Wolf said.

Wolf said that Dr. Neal ElAttrache and the examining radiologist were surprised by the overall solid condition of his shoulder.

“That was something that even surprised me,” Wolf said.

Wolf switched lockers with sidelined outfielder Jason Repko, saying he needed a “karma change.”

Wolf received an injection of cortisone for the swelling in his shoulder and will rest a couple of days before starting rotator cuff exercises, trainer Stan Conte said. Wolf will start throwing when he ceases feeling discomfort, which should be in the next week.

“We’ll take advantage of the All-Star break and probably rest it more than we necessarily have to,” Conte said. “We’re really looking at the second half as a whole. If it takes a day or two more than we think, we’d rather take that and make sure he has the best chance of making it through the whole second half without any problems.”

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Even if Wolf is ready to pitch when he is eligible to be activated from the disabled list on July 19, someone will need to take his first turn in the rotation after the All-Star break.

Little said he has not decided on a replacement for Wolf for Sunday’s game against Florida, and that he might not decide until Saturday.

Because it is the Dodgers’ last game before the All-Star break, Little said he might use a few pitchers for a few innings each. In that scenario, Mark Hendrickson would be one of those taking the mound. Hendrickson started his first game in more than month Wednesday and threw five innings.

The cause of Beimel’s heart palpitations was never discovered, but Beimel has been cleared to pitch today, Little said.

Little added that he didn’t think he would need to manage Beimel any differently when he returns.

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James Loney received baserunning tips from Maury Wills before Thursday’s game.

“He was showing me different leads, different ways to steal,” Loney said.

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dylan.hernandez@latimes.com

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