LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers starting rotation had been a strength of the club all season, but with the depth chart currently stretched thin as is, there could be even more carnage looming. Zack Greinke has elbow soreness and likely won't start for the Dodgers in the series finale against the Padres on Thursday.
Manager Don Mattingly wouldn't confirm after Tuesday's game that Greinke would start the series finale.
"Nothing that we would talk about right now," Mattingly said. "It's a possibility."
Asked if Carlos Frias would make a spot start if Greinke is unavailable, Mattingly remained evasive.
"We'll let you know more tomorrow," Mattingly said.
Greinke skipped a bullpen session between starts this week, something he has done multiple times this season. But Mattingly did say that Greinke threw on the off day Monday.
The right-hander is 12-8 with a 2.75 ERA in 25 starts this season, with 170 strikeouts and 35 walks in 157⅓ innings, in the second year of a six-year, $147 million contract.
The Dodgers have lost Greinke's last three starts, the first two of which he allowed a total of nine runs. He pitched scoreless ball in his last start on Friday but also walked five and was removed after 99 pitches and just five innings. After that game Greinke said he felt stronger than he did in recent starts, but hinted at something bothering him over his previous outings.
"I'm starting to feel stronger now. Hopefully, I start pitching better in the coming starts. The last month and a half has been a tough stretch, facing a lot of good teams and good offenses," Greinke said Friday. "I'm not getting the wins pitching, but am trying to keep it together and not get too out of whack."
Mattingly downplayed Greinke's situation before Tuesday's game, but confirmed he was dealing with elbow soreness.
"There is always something with guys. Obviously he said he felt better. He was having some soreness," Mattingly said. "You'd have to say something is going on medically, but nothing that's on my radar. He's not on my daily emails."
Up next
Before Thursday's series finale there is a middle game on Wednesday night, started by Roberto Hernandez for the Dodgers and Eric Stults for the Padres.