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Injured Hyun-jin Ryu sent back to L.A., ruled out for opening day

Dodgers starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu did not give up a hit in two innings of work against the Padres on March 12. He's been experiencing shoulder soreness since his last start on March 17.

Dodgers starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu did not give up a hit in two innings of work against the Padres on March 12. He’s been experiencing shoulder soreness since his last start on March 17.

(Lenny Ignelzi / Associated Press)
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The Dodgers sent injured left-hander Hyun-jin Ryu back to Los Angeles for medical evaluation Sunday, after he reported renewed discomfort in his throwing shoulder.

Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly said Ryu will not be ready for opening day.

Ryu felt shoulder tightness Wednesday. After an anti-inflammatory injection, Mattingly said Ryu was “feeling 100% almost instantly.” However, when Ryu resumed throwing Sunday, Mattingly said that “he felt a little something” in the shoulder.

The Dodgers shut Ryu down and sent him to visit the team’s medical consultants in Los Angeles. Mattingly could not say what tests Ryu might have, but he said it was too late in the spring for the Dodgers to limit Ryu’s work and still get him prepared for the season.

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“As we move forward, it’s going to be a heavier workload,” Mattingly said.

Opening day is two weeks away. Mattingly said the options to replace Ryu in the rotation include Joe Wieland, Zach Lee, Mike Bolsinger and Carlos Frias.

The injury could put additional pressure on the Dodgers’ bullpen, already weakened because closer Kenley Jansen will start the season on the disabled list as he recovers from foot surgery.

Ryu sat out six weeks last season -- three in April and May and three more in September -- because of inflammation in the shoulder.

Ryu, who turns 28 next week, went 14-7 with a 3.38 earned-run average last season. He pitched 192 innings in 2013, his first season with the Dodgers, and 152 innings last season, and he had said he wanted to pitch 200 innings this season.

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