Charlie Haeger might go on DL
One day after Charlie Haeger was chased after only five batters, the knuckleballer and the Dodgers disclosed that he had a foot injury that coincidentally might let the Dodgers recall promising rookie John Ely to fill their need for a starting pitcher Tuesday.
Despite a strong outing Thursday, Ely was sent to triple-A Albuquerque to make room on the roster for reliever Jeff Weaver, who came off the disabled list. The only way Ely could be recalled within 10 days after being demoted is for another pitcher to go on the disabled list.
That might be Haeger. Manager Joe Torre said trainers told him the right-hander has “been getting work on a heel,” specifically his right heel from which he pushes off the rubber, and Haeger confirmed that the heel has been “sore, tight” and a “recurring issue for me” and that he has been receiving treatments for it.
Haeger also said, “I’m not going to be heading out on the road trip,” which the Dodgers start Monday in Phoenix against the Arizona Diamondbacks. “I’ll probably end up going to the doctor tomorrow and then I don’t know what the plan will be from there.”
Torre said the only other candidate to start Tuesday against the Diamondbacks is another rookie, Carlos Monasterios, underlining the Dodgers’ difficulty in establishing a solid pitching rotation.
With Clayton Kershaw having pitched a gem Sunday against the Colorado Rockies, Chad Billingsley is set to start against the Diamondbacks on Monday and Hiroki Kuroda would start Wednesday.
Haeger, with an 8.49 earned-run average, gave up five earned runs and three walks to the Rockies in the first inning Saturday that led to the Dodgers’ 8-0 loss.
The Dodgers’ opening-day starter, Vicente Padilla, is on the disabled list because of soreness in his throwing forearm and isn’t expected back until June. But Padilla made light tosses Sunday as he starts his rehabilitation, Torre said.
Martin’s mission
Before Russell Martin slugged his third home run, on Sunday, the Dodgers catcher said he was confident batting in the leadoff spot despite some recent struggles at the plate.
“I’m not getting as many hits as I want, but the contact is there,” said Martin, who started his second consecutive game batting first. “The rest I can’t control so I don’t really care about it.”
Martin, batting .252 with seven runs batted in after Sunday’s game, was put in the leadoff spot in place of injured shortstop Rafael Furcal.
“My goal every time I’m up there is to have a good at-bat, getting on base any way I can,” Martin said. “That’s always my approach and it doesn’t change whether I’m hitting first or eighth.”
Martin said “the key is to get on base for the boppers” hitting behind him although, in Sunday’s case, the bopper turned out to be Martin.
And finally
A few eyebrows went up when Manny Ramirez, who just came off the disabled list after suffering a strained calf, was thrown out at second base on what appeared to be a steal attempt in the second inning. But Torre said Ramirez mistakenly thought a hit-and-run play was on.
Times staff writer Baxter Holmes contributed to this report.
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