Latos throws in Arizona to prepare for start
Dodgers righty tosses five-inning simulated game before facing Cubs on Saturday
CINCINNATI -- Mat Latos, bumped from the starting rotation last week, threw a five-inning simulated game at the Dodgers' Arizona complex on Monday in preparation for his start Saturday against the Cubs.
Latos last pitched for the Dodgers on Aug. 13. Since his acquisition from Miami last month, he is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA in three starts.
"It didn't make sense flying him in here, because we weren't going to use him out of the bullpen anymore," said manager Don Mattingly.
Latos, a former Red, was dropped from the rotation because the Dodgers had three scheduled days off in an eight-day span and wanted to maximize usage of aces Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke.
Beginning Tuesday night, the Dodgers play 16 consecutive days before the next day off (Sept. 10) and will have only one more day off (Sept. 17) until the end of the regular season.