Adam Kennedy On Track For Friday Return

Much of the pregame discussion before the Dodgers' second game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium centered around injured players. Adam Kennedy is at the forefront since he is due back the earliest and will necessitate a roster move.

Kennedy, who has already played five minor league rehab games with Class A Rancho Cucamonga, will continue his rehab with Triple A Albuquerque on Tuesday and Wednesday. Barring a setback to his right groin strain, he will be activated before Friday's road trip opener in Miami.

There is some question of the corresponding roster move once Kennedy is activated. Forgotten man Juan Uribe has played once in the last 11 games, and on Tuesday is out of the starting lineup for a 15th consecutive game. Manager Don Mattingly was asked if Uribe will ever play again.

"If the situation calls for it, he'll play. Either a matchup, or a pinch hit situation, or a double switch," Mattingly said.

Uribe has not played in any of the last four games. But what about tonight, when Luis Cruz is starting at second base instead of third?

"I could (start Uribe at third), but I'm trying to play the team that gives us the best chance to win, and today that's Jerry Hairston Jr.," Mattingly said.

Uribe, hitting .193/.252/.293 in 55 games this season, seems resigned to his role, which really isn't much of a role at all.

"He understands," Mattingly said. "I'm sure he's not happy. You really don't want him to be happy (sitting), but the fact that he says he understands is all you can ask."

Notes

• Mark Ellis is just getting a routine day off, something that has been the plan all along with the second baseman.
  
  "Mark from the beginning has been a guy we talked about not playing six or seven games a week. We wanted him to play 135 games. I know he's missed a lot, but we didn't want him playing 90 out of 105 or something," Mattingly said. "This is just a matter of hopefully keeping him better over the long haul."
• Ted Lilly threw a bullpen session on Monday, though Mattingly said if Lilly returns it wouldn't be until September when rosters expand. "He's still hopeful that he can get through this and be a possibility," Mattingly said.
• Matt Guerrier continues to throw without elbow pain and he will head to Camelback Ranch in Arizona on Friday to continue his rehab as the Dodgers open their road trip. Mattingly said Guerrier, who last pitched April 18, was a possibility for September activation.
• Scott Elbert, on the disabled list with left elbow inflammation, would have been eligible to be activated as early as Friday, but it sounds like he will need another week or so.
  
  "He's doing well, but with everything he had to do he wasn't going to be on time as far as the two weeks," Mattingly said. "He's been fine, throwing some pens and flat ground and hasn't had any setbacks, so he's moving forward and we're all pretty happy about that."
  
• Justin Sellers has had his rehab assignment cut short after a setback. Sellers played three games for Rancho Cucamonga, the last on Friday night. He received an epidural Tuesday morning to relieve lower back pain, and he will take the next few days off before continuing his rehab at Camelback Ranch in Arizona.

Starting Lineups

Game Time: 7:10 p.m.

TV: KCAL

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