"Dodgers right-hander Hiroki Kuroda, whom club officials had hoped would be ready to come off the 15-day disabled list as soon as he becomes eligible next Wednesday, will instead need additional time to recover from a mild strain of his left oblique.

Kuroda presently isn't allowed to participate in any baseball activity, including playing catch, and Dodgers trainer Stan Conte said the pitcher almost certainly will need to make at least one start in a minor-league game before being activated.

"There is still some tightness in his side, but there is no question he is better," Conte said. "With this type of injury, we definitely want him to have (at least) a bullpen. In a perfect scenario, you want him to do a rehab start to

make sure that everything is OK. These (oblique) injuries are notorious for coming back, and that is one of the things we are really trying to avoid.""