Schmidt is put back on disabled list; Anderson activated

Deciding they could no longer allow Jason Schmidt to pitch amid a dramatic reduction in velocity and effectiveness, the Dodgers put the right-hander back on the disabled list Monday.

The pitcher, who had struggled in three starts since being activated this month, remained in Southern California while the Dodgers traveled to Canada. Schmidt, who missed nearly two months this season because of shoulder inflammation, is scheduled to be examined by Dr. Neal ElAttrache.

Utility player Marlon Anderson will replace Schmidt on the roster and join the Dodgers today at the Rogers Centre for the opener of a three-game series against Toronto.

Anderson hit .241 with one homer and 11 runs batted in during an 11-game rehabilitation assignment with triple-A Las Vegas.

The Dodgers did not immediately announce who would replace Schmidt in the rotation, though reliever Chad Billingsley appears to be the leading candidate.

Other options include long relievers Mark Hendrickson and Brett Tomko or minor league starter D.J. Houlton, who is 5-2 with a 3.73 earned-run average for Las Vegas.

Schmidt gave up five hits and three runs in his most recent start Saturday against the Angels, walking four and striking out two in 4 2/3 innings.

Of larger concern is a fastball that continues to top out at only 88 mph, several miles per hour slower than last season and considerably slower than in the prime of his career.

Schmidt, who was 71-36 with San Francisco from 2002 to 2006, is 1-4 with a 6.31 ERA in the first year of a three-year, $47-million contract with the Dodgers. He has lasted six innings only once in six starts and has not won since April 4.

“Something is still not quite right,” Schmidt said after his last outing.

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Left fielder Luis Gonzalez said he would like to pull a switch in interleague play by making American League teams play by National League rules at home and vice versa.

That way, Gonzalez reasons, NL fans could get to see designated hitters such as Toronto’s Frank Thomas do more than pinch-hit.

“From what I understand, interleague was [created] for fans to get to see players that they don’t normally get to see,” Gonzalez said.

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Rafael Furcal’s first-inning homer against the Angels on Sunday was the shortstop’s first in 237 at-bats this season after he hit 15 homers in 2006.

ben.bolch@latimes.com