Pedro Baez leaves with pectoral injury, set for MRI

LOS ANGELES -- Relief pitcher Pedro Baez has been a key component to a resurgent Dodgers bullpen this season, but he might be sidelined for a little while. Baez left Wednesday night's loss to the Marlins with discomfort in his right pectoral muscle.

Baez entered the game with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh inning, and kept the deficit at one by getting the final out of the inning. He got two more outs in the eighth, striking out three on the night, but after allowing a double to Dee Gordon, Baez summoned catcher Yasmani Grandal to the mound.

After conferring with trainer Stan Conte and acting manager Tim Wallach (after Don Mattingly was ejected), Baez left the game, replaced by Sergio Santos.

Mattingly after the game said Baez would undergo an MRI exam on Thursday, and that a disabled list stint is possible.

"We'll just wait for the results tomorrow, but when a guy comes out of the game it's not that great," Mattingly said. "We'll see if it's four or five days. It could be shorter, but usually something like that is a little bit longer than that."

Baez has stranded all 13 inherited runners so far this season. The right-hander has a 1.76 ERA in 15 appearances (tied with Yimi Garcia for the team lead), with 22 strikeouts and only three walks in 15⅓ innings.

The Dodgers are currently carrying eight relievers among their 13 pitchers, and with the pending activation of closer Kenley Jansen someone has to go. Mattingly intimated Wednesday night that Jansen could be activated on Friday if needed, one day earlier than planned.

"Saturday is definitely not a hard date, but obviously it wouldn't be something like tomorrow, since he pitched today," Mattingly said. "The two [days] is more of a safety net."

Up next

The Rockies come to town for four games beginning Thursday night. Brett Anderson gets the call for the Dodgers in the series opener, while Colorado will recall Chad Bettis from Triple-A Albuquerque to make the start.