Dodgers notes: Scott Van Slyke, Joel Peralta, Brandon League & rehab assignments

LOS ANGELES -- As the Dodgers get ready for their middle game against the Diamondbacks, several of the injured are getting closer to returning.

Scott Van Slyke is sidelined with left mid-back inflammation, and is expected to take batting practice either Tuesday or Wednesday. Manager Don Mattingly said Van Slyke would definitely play in a minor league rehab game or two before returning to the Dodgers.

"He's close to being ready, so at some point he's going to play. What day that is, I don't know," Mattingly said. "He's going to have to pass the tests that [trainer] Stan [Conte] will have him pass to move into the rehab portion of it."

The Dodgers expect Van Slyke will be ready within a day or two of the first day he is eligible for activation, which is Monday. The Dodgers play in Texas for two games Monday and Tuesday before returning home.

There was talk earlier in the week of Van Slyke possibly returning without a rehab assignment, but the club wants to make sure if he is still feeling something in his back that they find out in a minor league game rather than a major league game and have to place him back on the DL for another 15 days.

Joel Peralta will begin a rehab assignment on Thursday with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga. He has been sidelined since April 23 with a pinched nerve in his neck.

Mattingly also said Brandon League will pitch his second game for Rancho Cucamonga, but was less sure of the exact date. Mattingly mentioned Wednesday, but the Quakes end a road trip in Modesto and it's unlikely the club would make League travel that far to pitch one inning. So League could be Thursday as well.

Pedro Baez, out with a strained pectoral muscle, isn't yet ready for a rehab assignment but continues to throw.

Brandon Beachy will head to Camelback Ranch in Arizona on Thursday to throw another simulated game, and a rehab assignment could soon follow.

"He's getting close. We're hearing talk of it," Mattingly said. "We won't set a timetable until we get there."

Beachy last pitched in a game on Aug. 20, 2013.

Carl Crawford is still working out in Arizona, and his strained right oblique is improving.

"He's running. He's doing better," Mattingly said. "He's gotten over the hump, in terms of doing more stuff."

Crawford was transferred to the 60-day DL last week and is ineligible to return until June 27. Mattingly said Crawford could be in line to return at some point close to that date.