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Although Josh Beckett is technically on the DL with a groin strain, numbness in his pitching hand and fingers recently became a much greater concern. It was enough of a concern that the right-hander even entertained the thought last week of having to retire.
On Tuesday, the Dodgers announced Beckett was examined by a nerve specialist in Dallas and diagnosed with nerve irritation in his right arm. He will rest and not throw a baseball for at least four weeks. No surgery is planned.
Beckett, 33, went 0-5 with a 5.19 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in eight starts before hitting the DL. He went 2-3 with a 2.93 ERA in seven starts for Los Angeles last summer after being acquired from the Red Sox in August's blockbuster trade.
The Dodgers are without starters Chad Billingsley (Tommy John surgery) and Chris Capuano (triceps) in addition to Beckett. Zack Greinke missed a few weeks with a broken collarbone, and Hyun-Jin Ryu missed his last start with a sore foot after being hit by a comebacker. They're also without Matt Kemp and Carl Crawford due to hamstring injuries.
Los Angeles sits in the NL West cellar at 25-32, 7 1/2 games back of the Diamondbacks.
