LOS ANGELES -- You don't have to tell Dodgers manager Grady Little how tough second basemen Jeff Kent is. Little was unsure if Kent, who was drilled in the left earflap of his helmet by a 91-mph fastball in the fourth inning of Sunday night's game, would be available to start in Monday's game.

Two hours prior to the game, Little informed the media that he had not set his lineup because he was waiting on Kent, who had not arrived at the park yet and needed to be cleared by the training staff before playing.

But Little had an inclination that his veteran second basemen would be in the lineup, saying, "Nothing about him surprises me, he's a tough man."

Sure enough, Kent arrived at the stadium, was checked out by the training staff and was back in the lineup batting fourth and playing his customary second base.

According to Little, Kent never lost consciousness after taking the ball off the helmet, and the training staff reported that he did not suffer a concussion. Little said that Kent was unsteady when he and head trainer Stan Conte got to him, but Kent knew where he was.

"He was swaying a little bit when we first got out there, but those kind of things we don't take chances with," Little said. "We felt like he would be fine and he had a little bit of a headache after the game, but there was no concussion. He wanted to go run the bases, but we weren't going to take that chance."

With only 31 games remaining in the season and the team 3 1/2 games behind San Diego in the Wild Card race entering play Monday, losing Kent would have been a big blow to the team's chances of making the playoffs. Kent, who is hitting .287 with 16 homers and 68 RBIs on the season, has been one the team's better hitters with runners in scoring position, hitting .314 with three homers and 47 RBIs. He also leads the team in doubles with 31.

Wolf update: Starting pitcher Randy Wolf, who has been sidelined since July 4 with soreness in his left shoulder, played catch several times during the recent road trip and is scheduled to throw again this week.

Despite the progress, the team is still uncertain if Wolf will be healthy enough to return this season. Little said he doesn't know how close or how far Wolf is from returning to the rotation.

"We're trying to get more of a handle on him every day," Little said. "He played catch a few times on this trip, but where he stands in his throwing program, I can't tell you for sure right now."

Kuo throws: Left-handed pitcher Hong-Chih Kuo, who is recovering from elbow surgery, played catch prior to Monday's game and said he felt good.

"I'm just trying to get my arm better," said Kuo, who has been on the shelf since June 30. "I just played catch and it felt good. You have to try it and see how it feels."

Like Wolf, the Dodgers are not sure if Kuo will be healthy enough to return this season. Kuo, however, said he was optimistic about returning and is taking it day by day.

"Yeah, I'm trying to stay hopeful," said Kuo about his rehab. "I tried to throw it hard and I didn't feel any pain, but I don't know when I'll come back."

No rest, no problem: The Dodgers arrived at LAX on Monday at 3:30 a.m. PT, and most of the players didn't reach their homes until 5 in the morning.

The players were allowed to show up to the park later than usual and the team did not take batting practice prior to the game. Little said he wasn't concerned about the long flight and the lack of sleep.

"When 7:10 p.m. gets there, you'll see some players busting there butt trying to win a game," Little said. "We sent [Monday's starter Derek] Lowe back yesterday early, and he got adequate rest. We'll take our chances."

Down on the farm: Just four starts into his Double-A career, Clayton Kershaw was named the Southern League's Pitcher of the Week. Kershaw, 19, allowed just two hits in six innings while striking out eight on Aug. 20.

Charity work: Dodgers Brad Penny, Eric Stults and Shea Hillenbrand will visit with patients at White Memorial Medical Center in the pediatric unit on Tuesday at noon.

Coming up: Right-hander Chad Billingsley (8-4, 3.48) takes on Nationals right-hander Jason Bergmann (2-5, 4.56) on Tuesday night at 7:10 PT at Dodger Stadium.