Los Angeles Dodgers: Eric Stults Feeling Healthy

Los Angeles Dodgers southpaw Eric Stults reported good news to Dodgers' camp after throwing 59 pitches for the class-A Inland Empire 66ers on Monday.

He told reporters in the Dodgers clubhouse before Tuesday night's game that his comfort level was high.

"The first time, I didn't think my stuff was where I wanted it," he said, "but last night after the first inning, I felt like I was able to throw all four pitches pretty much where I wanted to."

The Dodgers kept him on a 60 pitch count this past outing. Stults is looking towards his next start, predicted to be with triple-A Albuquerque sometime in the next few days.

That start will be treated as if he were 100 percent healthy.

Stults has been on the disabled list with a strained left thumb. He was filling the fifth starter role on the best team in baseball.

But the last time he pitched he gave up four runs in three innings on May 31 against the Chicago Cubs.

On the season, Stults is 4-2 with a 4.80 ERA in his nine starts with the Dodgers.

However, there may need to be some juggling amongst pitchers when Stults is healthy enough to return to the Dodgers. 

Manager Joe Torre announced yesterday that current fifth starter Eric Milton will be delegated to the bullpen until Jul. 11. The team will be shifting to a four-man rotation for the next few weeks

The move has nothing to do with Milton's production, but rather is a reflection of the upcoming Dodgers schedule.