"Hiroki Kuroda has been ruled out for his start on Thursday, Manager Joe Torre said.

Kuroda underwent a battery of tests that indicated he was recovering from the line drive he took on his head on Saturday in Arizona, but was sent home early and missed his previously scheduled bullpen session.

"That would all but eliminate that," Torre said of Kuroda taking his next turn in the rotation.

Trainer Stan Conte said that Kuroda continues to experience headaches from time to time and that his activities will be determined on a day-by-day basis.

Kuroda underwent an exam that tests brain function, and it showed he had a mild concussion.

"A lot of his reaction times were normal," Conte said. "It was a very good indicator for us that things weren't really bad."

Kuroda also rode a stationary bicycle and his symptoms didn't worsen when his heart rate increased, something else Conte took as a sign of progress. Kuroda will undergo more tests today.

With Kuroda unavailable, the Dodgers could call up left-hander Scott Elbert from triple-A Albuquerque to start in his place.

Padilla available

Vicente Padilla was released by the Texas Rangers on Monday, and his agent contacted the Dodgers to let them know the temperamental right-hander wanted to pitch for them.

"Absolutely," Padilla's agent, Paul Kinzer, said. "To be in a pennant race, he's definitely interested."

Padilla will become a free agent on Wednesday and can be signed for a prorated share of the league minimum, which is $400,000. The Rangers remain on the hook for the remainder of his $12-million salary.

A source in the Dodgers' front office said a Padilla signing was "unlikely at the moment."

Padilla was 8-6 with a 4.92 earned-run average and has developed a reputation as a bad teammate.

The Dodgers continue to comb the waiver wire for arms to add to their depleted pitching staff.

John Smoltz was recently released by the Boston Red Sox and is also available for a prorated share of the league minimum, but the Dodgers have serious concerns about his surgically repaired shoulder."