OF Carl Crawford joins growing group of Dodgers on disabled list

LOS ANGELES -- Injuries are beginning to strain the resources of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who put outfielder Carl Crawford on the 15-day disabled list with a torn right oblique muscle Tuesday before their game with the San Francisco Giants.

The day before, the Dodgers announced that pitcher Brandon McCarthy is out for the year with a torn elbow ligament. On Sunday, they put Yasiel Puig on the DL with a strained hamstring.

Their No. 3 starter, Hyun-Jin Ryu (shoulder), and closer, Kenley Jansen (foot), have been out since spring training.

"I think we've had a little run of using the DL here, but I still like our club and the guys we're going to put out there," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "I still feel like we're going to be able to score and win games."

Crawford injured the muscle in his side while hitting a triple Monday night. Crawford received a cortisone injection and had an MRI, which revealed the torn muscle, Crawford said.

He said he feels pain when he sneezes or coughs. The Dodgers expect Crawford to be out for more than 15 days, but they're hoping it will be less than a month.

"I was hoping not to get hurt again. I know it's like a broken record," Crawford said. "There's no way I could have avoided it."

The Dodgers, who entered the season with a record $270 million payroll, recalled utility man Enrique Hernandez from Triple-A Oklahoma City to fill Crawford's roster spot and Hernandez got Tuesday's start in center field against Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner.

For the most part, the Dodgers will fill in for Puig with Andre Ethier and for Crawford with a combination of Scott Van Slyke and Alex Guerrero, each of whom is off to a torrid start.

Guerrero was an afterthought in the team's plans this spring, but has forced his way into the lineup with a 1.773 OPS in 22 at-bats.

"We didn't go into the season with this plan, but our guys have swung the bat well," Mattingly said. "We just keep going."

Hernandez, 23, had a good spring, but batted .169 with two doubles, a home run and nine RBIs in 16 games with Oklahoma City while playing three positions. Crawford is batting .245 with one home run and three RBIs in 15 games.

Jansen and Ryu continue to make progress and both could be on the mound again within a month or so. Jansen threw a simulated game at Dodger Stadium Tuesday afternoon and will start his minor-league rehabilitation assignment Friday at Class-A Rancho Cucamonga.

The Dodgers expect him to return by mid-May. Ryu threw another bullpen session, said he is no longer feeling any pain in his shoulder, and could return by early June.