Off-days could keep Greinke, Kershaw, Ryu on turn

PITTSBURGH -- With days off Thursday and next Monday, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said he might "manipulate" the starting rotation to keep Zack Greinke, Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu on their regular turns.

Those three are tentatively scheduled to pitch in the three-game series against the Giants this weekend. The days off would allow either Josh Beckett or Dan Haren, who start Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, in Pittsburgh, to be skipped when the club opens its homestand against Atlanta next week.

Beckett returns to the rotation to start Tuesday night against the Pirates after spending time on the disabled list with a hip impingement that caused a torn labrum and cysts. He said he has responded well to a cortisone shot.

Mattingly said infielder Chone Figgins is likely to remain on his rehab assignment with Triple-A Albuquerque throughout the week before rejoining the Major League team when it returns home next week.

Reliever Scott Elbert, who resumed his rehab assignment after a break for a sore toe, is likely to continue for the duration of his 30-day assignment. Elbert hasn't pitched in the Major Leagues in nearly two years, but he is out of options so he cannot be sent to the Minor Leagues without going through waivers.