Greinke unlikely to be ready for Australia trip

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- It's two weeks before the Dodgers' plane leaves for Australia, and it looks less likely that Zack Greinke will be on it.

Greinke played catch on flat ground again Sunday, but manager Don Mattingly said the pitcher's strained right calf was "a lot like yesterday," and the club was determined to "be cautious going forward."

That sounds a lot like code for don't expect Greinke in Australia.

"We'll keep a timetable out of it," Mattingly said. "When he's ready for a [bullpen session], we'll go forward. He'll play catch to keep the arm moving without putting stress on the leg."

Without even a scheduled bullpen, which would be mandatory before game action, it will be almost impossible for Greinke to build the 90-pitch arm strength needed to make one of the two season-opening starts in Australia against Arizona.

Those games will be started by some combination of Clayton Kershaw, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Dan Haren.