Dodgers recall Scott Van Slyke from DL, place Chris Hatcher on DL

The Dodgers on Wednesday activated Scott Van Slyke from the disabled list, and placed Chris Hatcher on the DL with a strained left oblique.

Van Slyke missed 17 games with left mid-back inflammation, and is hitting .264/.313/.402 with two home runs and six doubles in 34 games this season.

He played three minor league rehab games with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga over the weekend, as designated hitter Saturday, left field on Sunday and first base on Monday. Van Slyke was 4-for-11 (.364) with a home run, a double and a walk with the Quakes.

Van Slyke returns to the Dodgers with good timing, with southpaw Wandy Rodriguez starting for the Rangers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium, just the 11th time the Dodgers have faced a left-handed starting pitcher this season.

Only the Cubs and Braves (nine games each) have faced fewer left-handed starters this season than the Dodgers. The average major league has faced 16 southpaw starters so far this season.

Van Slyke is playing left field and batting sixth.

Hatcher said he felt something in his side during his appearance on Sunday in San Diego. After first trying rest, Hatcher had an MRI exam on Wednesday morning.

"I wouldn't say it's painful, but it's uncomfortable," Hatcher said. "The oblique is one of those things that if you don't get rest you'll make it worse."

The DL move is retroactive to Monday. This is Hatcher's first career trip to the disabled list.

"Part of this is wanting to be careful with him, not allowing to keep pitching with it," manager Don Mattingly said. "We're hoping it's close to 15 days."

Mattingly said Hatcher's oblique strain isn't as severe as that of Carl Crawford, who last played April 27. Crawford was initially thought to miss 21-30 days but is currently on the 60-day DL and expected back close to June 27, the first day he is eligible to return.

The Dodgers currently have 14 position players and 11 pitchers, but Mattingly said the club plans to add a reliever, perhaps as soon as Thursday.

"We definitely need another reliever. We're going to have to get back to normal," Mattingly said. "We know we could do it for a day, with Kershaw going."