Josh Beckett to disabled list to make room for Zack Greinke

The Dodgers activated Zack Greinke from the disabled list on Wednesday to start against the Nationals, but another starting pitcher took his place on the shelf. Josh Beckett was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left groin strain to make room for Greinke, and becomes the sixth Dodgers starting pitcher to hit the disabled list this season.

It isn't the best way for Beckett to celebrate his 33rd birthday, but at least an injury is a fixable reason why he is off to such a bad start this season. Beckett is 0-5 with a 5.19 ERA this year, and his three-inning start on Monday was his shortest of the season. Since pitching scoreless ball into the ninth inning and suffering a complete game, 1-0 loss on Apr. 14, Becket allowed 21 runs in 24 innings over his last five starts.

For Greinke, Wednesday marks his first time on a major league mound since Apr. 11, when he broke his left collarbone in a collision with charging Carlos Quentin of the Padres. Greinke on the year is 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA.

The move of Beckett to the disabled list likely means Matt Magill stays in the rotation a little bit longer. With Thursday's off day, the Dodgers plan to give their starters an extra day of rest, including Clayton Kershaw, who threw a career-high 132 pitches on Tuesday night against the Nationals. The Dodgers list Hyun-jin Ryu and Chris Capuano as the starters on Friday and Saturday in Atlanta, with Sunday's starter as the yet-to-be-injured TBD. That is likely where Magill will start.

Game info

Time: 7:10 p.m.

TV: Prime Ticket

MLB Gameday