LOS ANGELES -- A recent X-ray revealed that Trayce Thompson's back injury, previously described as irritation, is in fact the result of multiple fractures. The Dodgers outfielder still believes that he will be able to return in September.
An earlier MRI didn't reveal the fracture. He had been expected to start a rehab assignment soon, but manager Dave Roberts pushed any possible return date to at least September on Friday, saying that the outfielder's recovery had plateaued and the team was "trying to get to the root of it."
"It was frustrating," Thompson said. "When I got an MRI, they said nothing was wrong. I was almost kind of disappointed with how bad I felt. Just physically, I felt like something was wrong. Once I got news it was a fracture, it was almost bittersweet."
Thompson will see a specialist again Tuesday, but said he still believed a return before the end of the season is realistic. He is able to throw and hit, but running has reaggravated the injury, prompting the team to give him a few days off in his rehab.
Moving parts in rotation
Brett Anderson allowed two runs and struck out two over five innings and 71 pitches in a rehab start for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Monday, possibly the final step in his rehab. Roberts said earlier the team would decide following the start if Anderson would rejoin the Dodgers or make another rehab start.
If they do make the decision to bring Anderson back, he'll be joining a rotation currently containing several moving parts both on and off the DL.
Brandon McCarthy had his third straight start of four innings or less on Sunday, displaying almost zero fastball command. McCarthy, less than a month removed from returning from Tommy John surgery, said he had no answers for what was causing the struggles, but said he didn't believe the cause was physical.
Manager Dave Roberts said McCarthy was still scheduled to start Saturday, but he would throw a bullpen session on Tuesday, and possibly another on Thursday, to try and work out what has caused the lack of fastball command.
Bud Norris, on the 15-day DL with a back strain, played catch Monday and would likely need a rehab start before he returns, possibly to the bullpen.
"Our plan is to get him back in the rotation, but it's really contingent on where we're at," Roberts said. "The starter situation is kind of a day-to-day thing. Once we get to next week, number one is making sure he's healthy and we'll assess once we get into next week."
While Rich Hill (blisters) is expected to make his Dodgers debut Friday, he will throw a 45-50 pitch bullpen session on Tuesday to confirm he is ready to go.
And while Ross Stripling and Julio Urías made starts on Saturday and Monday, the two remain on innings limits and will eventually have to be shut down.
Worth noting
• Adam Liberatore (left elbow inflammation) has felt much better and is expected to return from the DL on Aug. 13, his first day of eligibility, Roberts said.