Rafael Furcal isn’t worried about hitting place in Dodgers lineup

Rafael Furcal is expected to return as the Dodgers shortstop Sunday. Less certain is where he’ll hit in the batting order.

Tony Gwynn Jr.’s emergence as a capable leadoff hitter could thrust Furcal lower in the order.

“More than anything, he’s taken over that leadoff spot and that’s really an area that we’ve scrambled with all year,” Manager Don Mattingly said of Gwynn, who was batting .274 in the leadoff spot before Saturday’s game as opposed to his overall .255 average.

Furcal, who has batted exclusively in the leadoff spot this season, said he didn’t care where he hit.

“If they want me to hit eighth, seventh, it doesn’t matter,” said Furcal, who has been on the disabled list since June 4 because of a strained side muscle. “Whatever the team needs.”

Furcal expressed confidence that the 22 at-bats he accumulated during his rehabilitation assignment were sufficient to regain his timing at the plate.

When Furcal came off the disabled list in May after only 13 at-bats in minor league rehab games, he was one for 22 in his first five games back with the Dodgers.

Lilly has soreness

Left-hander Ted Lilly’s next start has been moved back one day, to Tuesday, because he hasn’t been able to get sufficient throwing in between starts because of “elbow tenderness,” Mattingly said.

Lilly had been scheduled to start Monday when the Dodgers open a homestand against the New York Mets, with right-hander Rubby De La Rosa following him Tuesday. Now, they’ll reverse starts, Mattingly said.

Lilly, 35, hasn’t been able to have throwing sessions in between games he pitches, for his last “three or four starts,” Mattingly said. That coincides with a slump for Lilly (5-8), who has given up six runs in each of his last three starts.

Asked whether the elbow problem accounted for Lilly’s recent struggles, Mattingly said, “He doesn’t say that, he said he hasn’t made pitches. He didn’t seem to think that it’s changed really anything.

“I guess his elbow’s been giving him some form of trouble, he feels better with it now. Maybe we’ve gotten over that hump. …

We felt like pushing him back a day, it gives him a chance to throw a bullpen and work on some stuff.”

Lilly, 35, is in the first year of a three-year, $33-million contract.

Short hops

Aaron Miles began Saturday’s game batting .475 over his previous 20 games. … The Dodgers and Angels conclude their series Sunday at Angel Stadium with Chad Billingsley (7-6) facing Ervin Santana (3-8) at 5:05 p.m.

james.peltz@latimes.com

ben.bolch@latimes.com