Schmidt put on 15-day disabled list

PHOENIX —  The Dodgers handled Jason Schmidt’s tender shoulder the same way his fastball has approached home plate -- with great deliberation.

The right-hander was put on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday, one day after an MRI exam revealed mild inflammation, two days after he felt discomfort while going through range-of-motion drills with trainers and three days after getting knocked from a game against the San Diego Padres without retiring a batter in the third inning.

Schmidt’s dramatic drop in velocity during his first three starts has alarmed the Dodgers, who plunked down $47 million over three years for his services. Several of his fastballs registered only 81 mph against the Padres and he is 1-2 with a 7.36 earned-run average.

Perhaps most alarming is that no one is convinced there is a link between the slow pitches and the sore shoulder.

“If I was getting results, who would worry about it?” he said of the discomfort. “Every pitcher feels something after every start. I was not expecting this by any means. I expected to go out and pitch and that this would resolve itself.”

How did he feel when the Dodgers suggested going on the disabled list?

“In a strange sort of way I’m in agreement with it,” he said.

Trainer Stan Conte had to grill Schmidt after the start Saturday to get him to admit that he felt discomfort. Schmidt repeatedly told reporters his arm felt fine.

“I got out the electric cattle prod,” Conte joked. On Sunday “we could elicit some pain, and that warranted the MRI.”

The exam was clean in most respects. There is no structural damage to the shoulder and his elbow is fine. It is a new injury for Schmidt, who has been on the disabled list several times with ailments ranging from a labrum tear in 2000 to groin injuries in recent years.

Schmidt’s fastball exceeded 90 mph most of his 13-year career, but the Dodgers recognized early in spring training that he wasn’t throwing as hard. Pitching coach Rick Honeycutt has studied video of Schmidt’s successful six years with the San Francisco Giants and found a slight difference in his mechanics.

“We haven’t seen anything were I said, ‘Whoa,’ nothing where you say I’m going to be throwing 100 mph,” Schmidt said. “It was a really small thing and it might help.”

The Dodgers haven’t decided who will take Schmidt’s start Thursday at Colorado. He will miss at least one more start because his stay on the 15-day disabled list is retroactive to Sunday.

Left-hander Mark Hendrickson, a former starter who has given up one run in 11 innings, is the obvious choice. Former starter Chad Billingsley, who was moved to the bullpen in spring training, would start Thursday only if Hendrickson is needed in long relief today.

Billingsley pitched two scoreless innings and earned the victory Tuesday, but he hasn’t thrown more than 37 pitches in any of his five appearances.

The Dodgers had only 10 healthy pitchers Tuesday but promoted short reliever Chin-hui Tsao from triple-A Las Vegas, where he has two saves. Tsao was with the Dodgers for two days last week but did not pitch.

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Outfielder Matt Kemp will join the Dodgers’ triple-A Las Vegas affiliate today and begin a minor league rehabilitation assignment. Kemp is eligible to come off the disabled list April 25, but Manager Grady Little would not guarantee that Kemp would rejoin the Dodgers at that time.

Kemp, who is batting .429, could stay in the minors if the Dodgers decide to increase their pitching staff from 11 to 12.

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Reliever Yhency Brazoban pitched one inning Tuesday for the Class-A Inland Empire 66ers, his first appearance since having elbow ligament replacement surgery last April. The right-hander retired the side in order, striking out one.

steve.henson@latimes.com