Erik Bedard back on radar, makes 2015 debut with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga

LOS ANGELES -- Erik Bedard made his first start of 2015 on Monday with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga after missing two months with a strain of the teres major muscle in his upper back. But for Bedard, one of many vying in spring training to be the next man up on the starting pitching depth chart, where he stands on the totem pole remains to be seen.

Bedard, 36, on Monday allowed three runs on six hits in four innings, with one strikeout and one walk against the San Jose Giants. All three runs came in the first inning, with four straight one-out singles followed by a sacrifice fly.

He allowed two singles and an error that loaded the bases with one out in the third, butt Bedard wiggled out of the jam without any further damage.

The left-hander threw 62 pitches in his 2015 debut.

Bedard before Monday was rehabbing at the Dodgers facility in Camelback Ranch. Also there is Chad Gaudin, also on a minor league contract and dealing with a neck nerve irritation, an injury suffered during spring training. There is as of yet no timetable for Gaudin's return to game action, though Ken Gurnick of MLB.com passed along this bit of news:

RHP Chad Gaudin had carpal tunnel release surgery and could be pitching in a month.

— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) May 26, 2015

Both pitchers will need to build up arm strength before even joining Triple-A, let alone be considered for a major league call-up.

"I haven't heard a whole lot, but as soon as they get going that's when we will start getting reports, as guys start getting closer to a regular season arm," manager Don Mattingly said.

Two more pitchers, Brandon Beachy and Brandon League, will head to Camelback Ranch to take part in simulated games and continue their rehab after the Dodgers depart for their road trip on Thursday to St. Louis.

First, Beachy will face live hitters at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, his third simulated game, each one five days after the last.

Both Beachy, recovering from his second Tommy John surgery, and League, out all year with a right shoulder impingement, are getting closer to a minor league rehab assignment, though no schedule has yet been set.