Dodgers take wait-and-see approach on Mark Ellis quad injury

And now for some good Dodgers health news!

OK, possible good news. Right now, the Dodgers will take anything approximating positive news on the injury front.

Mark Ellis, who left Friday’s game with a strained quadriceps, was not placed on the disabled list Saturday. For now, the Dodgers have gone the cautiously optimistic route.

Ellis reported Saturday that the injury was not bothering him nearly as much as feared, and the Dodgers have decided to wait and see how he responds before placing him on the DL. That’s means they’ll probably go a player short through the weekend, which they view as a minor gamble. Plus, after Matt Magill’s stand-in start Saturday, the Dodgers could always send him back to triple-A Albuquerque and call up a versatile infielder like Elian Herrera.

“I feel like it’s good news,� said Manager Don Mattingly of Ellis.

“It’s one of things that, you know, he’s really good today. Let’s see what it looks like tomorrow and we’ll be able to make a better decision. Obviously we’re going to bite the bullet for a day or two and see where we’re at. Anytime you see a guy pull up like that, it’s usually not good news. Today he seemed better.�

Also on the injury front, Mattingly said Chris Capuano (strained calf) will make a rehab start Wednesday for either Albuquerque or Class-A Rancho Cucamonga (which will be in Stockton).

Capuano moved his simulated game up to Saturday to be ready for Wednesday.

“Throwing hasn’t been a problem all along,� Capuano said. “I’ve been able to long toss and do my pens full out. Just yesterday started to introduce running outside. And we’ll progress to more lateral, explosive-type movements so I can be ready to bounce off the mound and cover first and run the bases and all that.

“I felt really good today.�

Depending upon whether they use Thursday’s off-day to give Josh Beckett and extra day’s rest, Capuano would return sometime during the May 6-8 series against the Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium.