<
>

Josh Beckett (hip) placed on DL

The Los Angeles Dodgers placed veteran pitcher Josh Beckett on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with a left hip impingement.

Beckett, 34, has been dealing with intermittent pain in the hip for a couple of weeks, and he felt a twinge while running the bases Sunday in Colorado, leaving the game after pitching five scoreless innings.

The move is retroactive to Monday, and the Dodgers have the Thursday off after the All-Star break, meaning Beckett conceivably could miss just one start while on the DL.

The Dodgers, who recalled right-handed reliever Pedro Baez from Triple-A Albuquerque, will need a starter for Beckett's spot in the rotation Saturday against the San Diego Padres.

The Dodgers had Red Patterson skip a scheduled start for Albuqerque last week so that his pitching day would line up with Beckett's in case of just this scenario.

The Dodgers also have the option of using veteran lefty Paul Maholm, who has been working out of their bullpen.

Beckett has had a bounce-back season after missing most of 2013 and then having a rib removed to relieve the symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome. He is 6-5 with a 2.26 ERA and threw a no-hitter against the Phillies on May 25.

This is Baez's second stint with the Dodgers this season. A converted third baseman, Baez has a 4.50 ERA in 17 games for Albuquerque.