Chad Billingsley injury: Dodgers pitcher out Tuesday with bruised finger

A simple bunting drill on Friday night has pushed back Chad Billingsley's next start, as the Dodgers pitcher will miss his scheduled Tuesday outing with a bruised right finger. Billingsley was hit on the finger during drills Friday night while bunting.

"I'm just taking it day by day, seeing how I feel," Billingsley said. "I'm still playing catch, but the command is just not there because it's bruised and swollen."

Manager Don Mattingly first said Billingsley was "highly doubtful" for Tuesday's start, then later said he'd likely have Billingsley start next on the same day as Hyun-jin Ryu, which would be Saturday.

"(We're not) trying to force him into this one. We're concerned about the finger from the standpoint of changing a grip, then not having a grip pressure then changing an arm angle. With everything that has gone on, we really don't want that," Mattingly said. "The one thing with Bills, we want to make sure he's able to throw."

Chris Capuano will likely get the start for the Dodgers on Tuesday. Billingsley will throw a bullpen later in the week. If Billingsley is able to make his start on Saturday, that would put both him and Ryu on pace to start Mar. 28 on regular rest. The Dodgers are back in southern California on that day, with a Freeway Series game in Anaheim against the Angels, as well as an exhibition game against their Class-A affiliate in Rancho Cucamonga.