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Chad Billingsley's latest comeback attempt might be over before it even fully began. The Dodgers right-hander had his bullpen session cut short and will head back to Los Angeles for further examination, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.
Chad Billingsley had his bullpen cut short at 20 pitches. Heading back to LA for dye-MRI tomorrow on elbow. Felt tightness/discomfort today
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) April 15, 2014
Billingsley's bullpen session, before the Dodgers open a three-game series against the Giants, was his first since having his minor league rehab assignment shut down after just one abbreviated start. Billingsley last week said the preliminary examination of his arm went well and the cause of the sensation he felt in his surgically-repaired right elbow was believed to be scar tissue.
Billingsley left his April 6 start with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga after just 1⅓ innings. He was scheduled to throw two innings that day, the first of five planned rehab starts.
The right-hander had Tommy John surgery on April 24, 2013. Billingsley is making $12 million in the final season of a three-year contract. He has a $14 million club option for 2015 that if declined would pay him $3 million as a buyout.