Lowe feels optimistic about injury

Because the machine performing the MRI exam malfunctioned and stretched the testing process into the evening, Derek Lowe didn’t know the exact condition of his strained left groin.

But the Dodgers’ right-hander, who worsened the pre-existing strain Wednesday while trying to beat a throw to first base in Houston, was optimistic.

He said he wasn’t feeling any pain. Strength tests suggested the strain was mild. The combination of those factors led him to feel fairly certain that he wouldn’t be forced to miss his next scheduled start Tuesday.

“We can’t see it being serious,” said Lowe.

Today, Lowe will learn how specialists interpreted the results of the MRI exam. He also plans to throw off a mound.

“I don’t think it’s going to be too bad,” Manager Grady Little said.

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A day removed from a 57-pitch rehabilitation start in San Bernardino, Randy Wolf strongly hinted he would pitch in at least one more minor league game.

Pitching for the Inland Empire 66ers on Wednesday, Wolf gave up three runs, six hits and one walk against Rancho Cucamonga. He threw 39 strikes.

Wolf said he didn’t feel he had the necessary arm strength to rejoin the Dodgers’ rotation immediately. He has been on the disabled list since July 4 because of a sore left shoulder.

“Right now, it wouldn’t be right,” Wolf said. “It’d be tough on the bullpen.”

Wolf was in the Dodgers’ clubhouse at Coors Field on Thursday, saying his mind and heart were at odds.

Of being sidelined at a time when the arm-weary Dodgers need him most, Wolf said, “It’s hard. At the same time, you have to realize we do have 60 games left and you don’t want to burn the first 20 and then be running on blanks in the last 40. You’ve got to be smart with it. As hard as it is mentally and emotionally for me to be on the DL right now, you’ve got to do the right thing.”

Wolf described his shoulder as “a little stiff” Wednesday, but said it didn’t trouble him in the game.

“We’re kind of taking it day-by-day right now,” Wolf said. “We’ll see how it feels in the next couple days and take it from there. Everyone wants to take the conservative approach.”

He added that he would let the Dodgers’ medical staff decide his immediate future.

“You learn from experiences before that when it comes to the athlete wanting to get back out there, they always want to get back out there sooner than they should,” he said. “I’m going to listen to them.”

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The results were mixed, but Jonathan Broxton said that the chances he had to close in Takashi Saito’s absence should benefit him in the future.

“Hopefully, in the future I’ll be a closer and getting that experience helps,” Broxton said.

Broxton earned a save in a victory over New York on July 22, then blew one the very next day. He said he noticed that when pitching in the ninth, “things go a lot faster.”

Saito doesn’t think Broxton will have trouble inheriting his role.

“Any player in the major leagues has something special,” Saito said. “But his ability to throw as hard as he does is particularly exceptional. For him to be doing what he’s doing at his age will put him ahead of the learning curve. Every time he goes out on the mound, I see him grow.”

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Wilson Betemit started at second base Thursday in place of a resting Jeff Kent. The start was the second in a row for Betemit, who played third the previous day.

dylan.hernandez@latimes.com