NewsStults on target for next start for Dodgers
Lefty set for Wednesday after jammed thumb improves
By Ken Gurnick / MLB.com
05/18/09 9:17 PM ET
LOS ANGELES -- Eric Stults remains listed as the Dodgers' probable starting pitcher for Wednesday night after reporting improvement in his jammed left thumb.Stults, who had his between-starts bullpen session rescheduled from Sunday to Monday because of discomfort, said the session was scrapped Monday because the discomfort was mostly gone.
"It's feeling a lot better and we decided to back off the bullpen and stay on the path of starting Wednesday," said Stults, who injured the thumb making a defensive play Friday night in a no-decision against Florida. "We figured, rather than risking flaring it up, we'd give it another couple days of rest. I threw long toss and, from yesterday to today, it felt a lot better, so we held off. I think there's a good chance for Wednesday."
Manager Joe Torre called Stults "50-50" to make the start and said if Stults can't, Jeff Weaver would take his place. Weaver is 1-0 in two starts but was returned to the bullpen as the long reliever when the Dodgers promoted Eric Milton to start Saturday's game in Florida.
Stults was injured while fielding a bunt, jamming his thumb when his momentum after making a flip of the ball to first base put him into a headfirst dive on the infield grass.
Stults is 4-1 with a 3.82 ERA and the Dodgers are 6-1 in games he started after being promoted from Triple-A Albuquerque on April 11 to replace injured Opening Day starter Hiroki Kuroda.
Ken Gurnick is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
