McCarthy set to begin rehab assignment

LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy, out since April 2015 after Tommy John surgery, will begin an injury rehab assignment on Saturday for Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga, manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday.
McCarthy, 32, is expected to pitch three innings, having moved ahead of Hyun-Jin Ryu on the comeback trail. Ryu was expected to be ready at the start of Spring Training after May 2015's shoulder labrum surgery, but has had repeated setbacks and is rebuilding arm strength after having his rehab assignment shut down last month.
The often-injured McCarthy was signed after the 2014 season to a four-year, $48 million contract to replace fourth starter Dan Haren, who was traded to Miami.
McCarthy has been on the disabled list 10 other times with right shoulder blade problems dating back to 2007, including stress fractures and stress reactions as recently as 2013. He spent the entire 2010 season at Triple-A.
He also took an Erick Aybar line drive off the side of his head in 2012, resulting in life-threatening injuries and surgery. He recovered to sign a two-year contract with Arizona. In 2013, he had more shoulder problems and suffered a seizure related to his head injury, but rebounded in 2014 healthy enough to pitch 200 innings.
The Dodgers have four experienced Major League starting pitchers on the disabled list -- McCarthy, Ryu, Brett Anderson and Alex Wood. Their absence has created opportunities for Mike Bolsinger and Julio Urias to join Clayton Kershaw, Scott Kazmir and Kenta Maeda.