Shoulder getting better, but Ryu lands on DL

MIAMI -- The Dodgers placed pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu on the 15-day disabled list with shoulder inflammation, optioned Red Patterson to Triple-A Albuquerque and returned reliever Paco Rodriguez to Albuquerque in a flurry of Friday roster moves.

To replace them, reliever Jose Dominguez and infielder Chone Figgins were recalled from Albuquerque.

Manager Don Mattingly said Ryu's injury is not believed to be serious and it has not required an injection or an MRI exam. Mattingly indicated the left-hander probably would have just been skipped instead of being placed on the DL if not for Tuesday's rainout, which jumbled the rotation.

Mattingly said Ryu complained of discomfort he felt during his most recent start Sunday at home against Colorado, when he allowed six runs in five innings on nine hits.

"That explains the velocity we've been seeing, 87 and 88 [mph]," Mattingly said. "It seems to happen when he's tired."

Ryu said he experienced the same discomfort in the middle of his shoulder blade while pitching in Korea in 2011, and he was "back on track" in 10 days. He said it already feels better than it did earlier in the week.

Mattingly said if Ryu is sidelined only 15 days, he probably wouldn't need a Minor League rehab assignment, but would throw a couple of bullpen sessions to "reassure" himself and management.

Ryu and Clayton Kershaw started the team's two season-opening games in Australia, and both are on the DL, but Kershaw is expected to return and start Tuesday in Washington.

Ryu said he could not draw any conclusions from the injuries to him and Kershaw.

"It seems to me coincidence," he said. "Injuries happen all the time."

Ryu was expected to start Sunday in Miami. The Dodgers will need to find a replacement, and the most likely candidate is Stephen Fife, currently at Albuquerque.

Dominguez, sent down last week, is allowed to be recalled within the 10-day period because he replaces an injured pitcher.

But the Dodgers need his durable arm in the bullpen, which was called on to eat 9 2/3 innings during Thursday's doubleheader in Minnesota. Dominguez last pitched two innings on Monday.

Rodriguez, called up for the Twins series, pitched two-thirds of an inning Wednesday and Thursday.

In addition, long reliever Jamey Wright pitched three innings Thursday night and was unavailable Friday.

The return of Figgins restores the bench to five players and coincides with the schedule resuming against a National League opponent. In the Interleague Series in Minnesota, the Dodgers went with 13 pitchers and 12 position players because of the designated hitter rule.