Brett Anderson has Achilles inflammation, hopes to avoid DL stint

ATLANTA -- The Los Angeles Dodgers are hopeful Brett Anderson can avoid another trip to the disabled list after an MRI to his injured left ankle showed only some inflammation in the sheath surrounding his Achilles tendon.

Anderson said he will play catch Thursday in New York and, if everything feels good, will throw a bullpen session Friday. That would put him on schedule to make his next start Sunday at Citi Field.

"I wouldn't say I'm totally in the clear, but to get the MRI is reassuring," Anderson said.

Anderson left Tuesday night's 4-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves in the third inning with irritation in the area of his left Achilles tendon.

The 27-year-old lefty said he first felt the injury while fielding Andrelton Simmons' comebacker in the first inning. He said it tightened up as the game went on and that he was limiting his drive off the mound, affecting his command.

Anderson exited after charging off the mound and bending awkwardly to try to field Jonny Gomes' chopper to his right. He dropped it, then kicked it into foul ground, allowing Gomes to reach on an infield single. Anderson bent down to feel the area behind his left ankle, then beckoned Dodgers trainers onto the field.

The possibility of Anderson's being able to avoid the disabled list should come as a relief to Dodgers manager Don Mattingly, as the team has already lost starters Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-Jin Ryu for the season.

"I'm pretty concerned with the state of the rotation at this point. We've had injuries, and we're getting deeper and deeper into it," Mattingly said Tuesday night. "As consistent as Brett has been, we're kind of counting on him to be that guy throwing six or seven innings, keeping us in the game."