Josh Beckett injury: Dodgers RHP shuts down throwing program, will have MRI

The good news for Dodgers pitcher Josh Beckett is that his lingering left groin strain has improved. But the starter has been shut down from his throwing program nonetheless and is scheduled to have an MRI.

"The groin has been good, but the arm has been bad," said manager Don Mattingly before Monday night's game against the Angels. "He's still feeling numbness and tenderness in his fingers."

Beckett has been sidelined since May 13. The groin issue and "other stuff," as Beckett called it contributed to his 0-5 record and 5.19 ERA in eight starts this season.

Catching up on other Dodgers injury news...

• Relief pitcher Scott Elbert will get Monday and Tuesday off but will continue his minor league rehab assignment on Wednesday with Triple-A Albuquerque. Elbert has already pitched eight games on his rehab assignment, which began on May 10. Elbert, recovering from two offseason elbow surgeries, pitched three games with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga, then five more with Double-A Chattanooga, including back-to-back days on Saturday and Sunday for the first time since last season.
  
  "He's still in the medical department. But they're getting pretty confident," Mattingly said. "They just wanted to make sure, with the length of time that he's been out, that he's ready."
• Stephen Fife has had a slow recovery from right shoulder bursitis, but was able to throw one simulated game already. Mattingly said Fife will throw another simulated game of approximately 70 pitches at some point this week. Fife last pitched for the Dodgers on Apr. 21.
• Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis isn't so much injured but perhaps a little fatigued. Ramon Hernandez starts at catcher on Monday night, and Mattingly admitted he probably should have rested Ellis on Sunday. Ellis was involved in a home plate collission on Friday night and was hit by a pitch on the left wrist on Sunday against the Cardinals. Since the home plate collission, Ellis was 0-for-9 with seven strikeouts.
  
  Ellis is tied for sixth in the majors with 39 starts behind the plate and seventh in MLB with 343 innings caught this season.
  

Game info

Time: 5:10 p.m.

TV: Prime Ticket, Fox Sports West

MLB Gameday