Romo closing in on return from disabled list
LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers reliever Sergio Romo will have one rehab assignment before he returns from the 10-day disabled list, manager Dave Roberts said Sunday.
The right-hander was placed on the DL on June 9 with a left-ankle sprain.
Two hours before the Dodgers' 9-7 win over the Reds on Sunday, Romo threw a 15-pitch simulated inning. Romo has struggled this season, having allowed five home runs and 14 earned runs in 19 2/3 innings.
"He said his ankle feels good," Roberts said about Romo. "There's a balance in trying to worry about the injury and trying to get him to pitch. He hasn't pitched in six days, so we'll see how he looks."
Worth noting
• Scott Kazmir is still working on picking up his velocity at the Dodgers facility in Arizona. Roberts said the Dodgers are using a weighted ball program to help increase his velocity and he expects Kazmir to pitch for the Dodgers sometime this season. Kazmir was 10-6 last season in 26 starts and sported a 4.56 ERA.
• Joc Pederson hit a home run in his second straight rehab game Saturday night for Triple-A Oklahoma City, but Roberts wants to see him continue to put together good at-bats.
"I think for me, I want to hear that the at-bats are consistent," Roberts said, "and the approach and the mechanics are sound. I just don't feel that right now, with two games and six at-bats, is enough to warrant a comeback."
• Kenta Maeda will continue to come out of the bullpen this week. Roberts said he plans to work Maeda into a game either Wednesday or Thursday during the Dodgers' three-game series against the Indians.