Oh, baby: Greinke is back in L.A.
NEW YORK — Zack Greinke returned to Los Angeles on Thursday for the impending birth of his first child, altering the Dodgers’ already-shaky rotation plans for the weekend.
Greinke will miss his scheduled turn in the rotation Friday against the New York Mets and be replaced by left-hander Ian Thomas, a long reliever who was recalled from triple-A Oklahoma City earlier in the week. Thomas has started five games in the minor leagues.
Manager Don Mattingly wouldn’t rule out Greinke for the entire four-game series, which ends Sunday. Greinke has a scoreless streak of 432⁄3 innings.
“He may be able to get back for Saturday, he may be able to get back for Sunday, he may not be able to get back for either one,” Mattingly said. “We’re just hopeful he’ll be able to pitch this weekend. We think it’s realistic at this point. Obviously, anything can happen with the birth of a child.”
The Dodgers still haven’t named their starting pitchers for Saturday or Sunday.
The rotation spot that will come up Saturday became vacant when the Dodgers optioned Brandon Beachy to triple A earlier in the week. Beachy, who returned from his second reconstructive elbow operation, lasted only four innings in each of his two starts.
As for Sunday, Mattingly thinks Brett Anderson could pitch that day. So does Anderson.
“Just based off the last few days, I wouldn’t foresee any setbacks,” Anderson said.
Anderson departed from his start Tuesday in Atlanta after only 22⁄3 innings because of problems with his Achilles’ tendon. Anderson has since reported significant improvement in his condition and threw on flat ground Thursday. He said he will throw his regularly scheduled bullpen session Friday.
How Anderson feels Friday will determine whether he starts Sunday.
Regardless of whether Anderson pitches Sunday, he said he is confident he will avoid the disabled list.
Extra bases
Right-hander Chris Hatcher is scheduled to start a minor league rehabilitation Friday with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga. . . . Sidelined starter Carlos Frias is expected to start Sunday for Rancho Cucamonga. Frias has been sidelined since July 1 because of lower-back problems.