Frias will undergo MRI, expected to make next start
Mattingly doesn't expect back injury to be serious
PHOENIX -- Dodgers starting pitcher Carlos Frias will have an MRI on his lower back on the Thursday day off, but manager Don Mattingly said the club expects Frias to make his next scheduled start on Monday.
Frias has been bothered by lower-back tightness in his last two starts. In Chicago last week, the discomfort was believed to be cramping from dehydration because he had been experiencing flu-like symptoms.
But the discomfort returned Tuesday night throughout Frias' five-inning start against the Diamondbacks. Frias is scheduled for a regular between-starts bullpen session Friday.
"I hope it's nothing serious," said Frias, who said he had lower back problems in the Minor Leagues four years ago.
Frias and Mike Bolsinger, who have taken the rotation spots of the injured Hyun-Jin Ryu and Brandon McCarthy, have not pitched beyond the sixth inning since June 9.
Manager Don Mattingly said he plans to shuffle the rotation coming out of the All-Star break to avoid having Bolsinger and Frias back to back, as their shorter starts have taxed the bullpen on consecutive days.