Prior to Wednesday night’s game against the Washington Nationals, I had an opportunity to ask Dodger manager Don Mattingly how rehabbing left-handed reliever Scott Elbert was going to fit in with the team when he completes his rehab assignments.

“We’ll see. He’s got a good arm, that’s one thing we found over the last couple of years,” said Mattingly. “This guy has got power stuff… you take all those power arms you can get.”

Mattingly was quick to add that in spite of not allowing an earned run in his three minor league appearances thus far, Elbert is not yet ready to return to the Dodgers.

“He’s still a little ways away. He’s had some good outings but he hasn’t pitched (in the major leagues) since late in the year last year… it’s been awhile and he had a couple of surgeries. 

“We’ve got to get to that point where he can pitch two days in a row… can pitch two innings, or one plus at least,” Mattingly added. “We’re not going to be able to use him where we use him one day and he (needs) a day off. He’s got to get to the point where we can use him back-to-back before you can start thinking about throwing him in your pen.”

I asked Mattingly if the All-Star break might be an accurate timetable for Elbert’s return and the normally evasive three-year Dodger manager finally tipped his hand… a little.

“No, he’s getting close, the guy’s getting close. I don’t want to push him too far, I’m just saying that at this point we just want to make sure he’s ready when he comes (back).”

When healthy, Scott Elbert has one of the nastiest sliders in the game.
(Photo credit – Jeff Gross)

After two surgeries in five months to repair cartilage damage in his left elbow, Elbert began the 2013 season on the 15-day DL and has been brought along very carefully. He had a bullpen session at Dodger Stadium this past week and made his first rehab appearance with the Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes last Friday, May 10, picking up the win. Elbert has made two additional rehab appearances with the Quakes since and, based on what Mattingly said, he will most likely make several additional rehab appearances – possibly with the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts. In his three rehab innings with the Quakes Elbert has allowed no runs, one hit and one walk while striking out 4.

As expected, Mattingly gave no indication whatsoever as to what roster move(s) he would make to open up a spot for Elbert. Speculation is that one of his current relievers will probably land on the DL to make room for him. And while each of us have our own idea as to who that might be, if it is not J.P Howell or Paco Rodriguez (both of whom are among the better relievers in the Dodger bullpen and who are both healthy), the addition of Elbert would give the Dodgers three lefties in the pen – and that’s not a bad problem to have at all.

Stay tuned…