Zack Greinke injury: Dodgers pitcher scratched, headed to Los Angeles

The Dodgers will battle the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday afternoon in Maryvale, and will do so without Zack Greinke, their schedule starter. Greinke, who reported mild irritation in the back of his right elbow on Sunday, was scratched from his second straight start.

Greinke will travel to Los Angeles to be examined by team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache in what is being termed by the team as a precautionary exam. Greinke's next start will be delayed pending the results of the examination.

Manager Don Mattingly said Greinke had an MRI last week that didn't show anything.

"The fact that he's not here is a little concerning, but I know we're being cautious with this. Listening to Zack, he thinks he can pitch with this," Mattingly said. "But just for his own good, as a player it clears your mind when there is nothing that you're going to hurt doing it. Getting more information is good for him."

Hyun-jin Ryu, who was originally scheduled to follow Greinke on the mound against the Brewers, will now start instead. Ryu is expected to throw five innings or roughly 75 pitches.

Greinke first reported elbow stiffness on Mar. 3, then missed his scheduled start three days later because of illness. He recovered to throw a bullpen session Friday that Mattingly raved about.

"I was in there the other day when he was throwing that bullpen and if that's a guy that's hurt," Mattingly said. "If there is something serious going on that would be a shocker."

Greinke is scheduled to throw four innings and roughly 60 pitches, and it will be interesting to see how this affects his readiness for opening day. He likely has three spring starts left in order to build up arm strength and get stretched out for his Apr. 2 start against the Giants.

But Greinke has to be healthy first.

Here is Monday's Dodgers starting lineup:

Schumaker CF
Ellis 2B
Ethier RF
Hairston 1B
Ellis C
Uribe 3B
Puig LF
Gordon SS
Ryu P

Scheduled reserves for the Dodgers include Elian Herrera (CF), Alfredo Amezaga (2B), Jeremy Moore (RF), Scott Van Slyke (1B), Tim Federowicz (C), Brian Barden (3B), Alex Castellanos (LF), and Justin Sellers (SS).