Rafael Furcal & Carlos Monasterios Updates

Rafael Furcal will most likely not land on the DL with his hamstring injury. Which is excellent, because he had been playing and running well, and he's not Jamey Carroll. That last part can't be stressed enough.

An MRI on Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal's left hamstring revealed a "little strain," according to manager Joe Torre, who added that "it doesn't look like a DL thing."

Furcal suffered the injury trying to beat out a double-play grounder in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader.

Torre said Furcal would be examined by team Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Thursday, when it will be decided if he should receive a platelet-rich plasma injection to promote healing.

Furcal did receive the injection.

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Carlos Monasterios will make his first big league start Saturday against the Pirates. I had not anticipated Monasterios would get real consideration, but I'm glad he's getting the spot start, though his long-term future is strictly as a reliever.

Manager Joe Torre, said he hoped Monasterios could throw 70 to 75 pitches. If Monasterios struggles, Ramon Ortiz (0-1, 6.39), who was also a candidate to start the game, could work in long relief.

"I just told him, the last couple times you were out there you were free and easy, just go as hard as you can and then we'll come get you depending on pitch count," Torre said. "A lot of it's going to depend on how he starts out. If he runs counts up in the first couple innings, we may have to go get him earlier than anticipated."

Torre said he has not made a decision on who the team's fifth starter will be going forward -- Charlie Haeger, Monasterios or otherwise. The Dodgers can reset their rotation with an off-day Monday after a four-game series with Pittsburgh.

"I'll let you know when the time comes," Torre said.