Greinke scratched - received an injection

PHOENIX -- Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke received an injection of platelet-rich plasma and anti-inflammatory medication in his right elbow Monday in Los Angeles, will rest for two to three days and then return to a progressive throwing program, the club announced.

Greinke was scratched from his scheduled start Monday vs. the Brewers and instead flew to Los Angeles to be examined by team Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who diagnosed inflammation but no structural damage, confirming results of an MRI taken last week.

Greinke missed a bullpen session 10 days ago because of discomfort in the back of the elbow, missed a start five days ago because of the flu, then threw an impressive bullpen session Friday without issues.

But the discomfort in the back of his elbow returned when he played catch Sunday. The club said the decision to send Greinke for an exam was made "out of an abundance of caution."

Greinke has told the club he's dealt with similar elbow issues in the past that never kept him from missing a start. However, the injury puts his availability to make his first scheduled regular-season start April 2 in jeopardy.

"The fact that he's not here is a little bit of a concern," manager Don Mattingly said before ElAttrache's diagnosis was known. "Listening to Zack, he can pitch with this. I know we're being really cautious.

"As a player, it clears the mind when you know nothing is going to get hurt by doing this. I was standing in during his bullpen and if that's him hurting with something serious going on, it would be a shocker."

Hyun-Jin Ryu, who was already scheduled to pitch on Monday, started in Greinke's place and allowed three runs in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out three.

Greinke was signed to a $147 million contract in December (the richest ever for a right-hander at the time) after exceeding 200 innings in four of the last five seasons. He missed time in 2011 because of a broken rib suffered in a spring pickup basketball game that left him on the disabled list throughout April.

He has made only two starts this spring for a total of five innings, while Opening Day starter Clayton Kershaw made his fourth start on Sunday and has pitched 13 innings.