PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Los Angeles Dodgers have placed reliever Hong-Chih Kuo on the 15-day disabled list due to an anxiety disorder.
Manager Don Mattingly declined to talk about specifics of Kuo’s status before Wednesday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but said he could be out long-term. Kuo was expected to return to Los Angeles late Wednesday night. He will undergo a series of tests in the coming days.
The 29-year-old left-hander was an All-Star in 2010 but has struggled with his form this spring. Kuo has an 11.57 ERA in nine appearances and has struggled since missing more than two weeks in April because of a lower back strain. He gave up a run on two hits without retiring a batter in a 4-1 loss to the Pirates on Monday.
Mattingly said he anticipates Kuo will pitch again and credited him for his toughness. The setup man’s left elbow has been operated on four times during his seven-season major league career.
“Really, when you talk about Kuo, he’s always basically hurt,” Mattingly said. “It’s just at what level. The elbow always hurts. That like never goes away, really. It just depends on how much he can deal with. It’s always there.”
The Dodgers recalled left-hander Scott Elbert, their 2004 first-round draft pick, from Triple-A Albuquerque on Wednesday to take the roster spot.
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