LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers pitcher Brandon McCarthy will be placed on the 10-day disabled list on Monday because of a finger blister, and Kenta Maeda will replace McCarthy as the starting pitcher Tuesday night against the Twins.
Although McCarthy was able to throw a 40-pitch bullpen session on Sunday, manager Dave Roberts said the decision was made to put him on the disabled list. That will open a roster spot for Hyun-Jin Ryu, who is coming off the disabled list to start Monday night.
Roberts also said the club is considering calling up a reliever in the wake of Clayton Kershaw's two-inning start on Sunday. The bullpen picked up eight innings, and Brock Stewart was unavailable as the latest team member to take ill.
Management believes the finger blister was at least partially responsible for McCarthy's disappointing outing Thursday night, when he allowed six runs in four innings. Maeda has become a floater in a 5 1/2-man rotation.
McCarthy has downplayed the effects of the blister, which he said he's had since Spring Training and which forced him out of a June game. With his work and bullpen session since Thursday night's start, McCarthy has shown no interest in going back on the disabled list. This will be his third visit to the disabled list this year and 17th in his career.
Maeda is 8-4 with a 4.23 ERA and has had better recent form than McCarthy. In his last start Wednesday against the White Sox, Maeda allowed one run in five innings. In his previous start 12 days earlier he also allowed one run in five innings against Kansas City. Maeda is 3-0 with a 1.06 ERA in three career Interleague starts and has never faced Minnesota.
Roberts also watched Adrian Gonzalez (lower back) take an impressive batting practice session on Sunday and said he is eager to see how Gonzalez feels on Monday after the workout.
"I was surprised at the results, but I know he wanted to show us that he is closer than we think," said Roberts, who added that a Minor League rehab assignment will be needed before Gonzalez rejoins the club. Roberts deflected a question about how he would divvy up playing time at first base and left field among Gonzalez, Cody Bellinger and Chris Taylor.