Shawn Tolleson injury: Dodgers relief pitcher hurts left knee, leaves game

Dodgers relief pitcher Shawn Tolleson left Tuesday's game against the Padres in the eighth inning with an injury to his left knee. The initial diagnosis was mild soreness in his left knee, and Tolleson will be re-examined by a team physicians on Wednesday.

Tolleson is listed as day-to-day.

Tolleson retired Jeudy Valdez on a ground out to open the frame but after two pitches to Gregorio Petit, Tolleson bent over in pain. After talking with coaches and trainers on the mound, Tolleson exited the game and walked off the field under his own power with trainer Sue Falsone.

"Obviously we don't know anything for sure, but it sounded like Sue was ruling out the big stuff," said manager Don Mattingly after the game. "He still felt something that scared him, I know that. But it would be premature for me to speculate on what it might be."

Tolleson was able to walk down the right field line under his own power, on his way to the clubhouse, where he received treatment. Tolleson left the clubhouse and boarded the team bus with his left knee heavily wrapped in ice, and did not speak to reporters.

"We'll probably find out more tomorrow," Mattingly said.

After a rapid rise through the Dodgers' system Tolleson, a 30th round draft pick in 2010, made his major league debut in 2012 and spent four months in the Dodgers bullpen. He was 3-1 with a 4.30 ERA in 40 games, with 39 strikeouts and 20 walks in 37⅔ innings. Tolleson is one of several pitchers fighting for the last two spots in the Dodgers bullpen this spring.

In three Cactus League contests, Tolleson has a 3.86 ERA in three appearances, with three strikeouts and two walks in 2⅔ innings.