CHICAGO — Blake Treinen’s absence from the Dodgers’ bullpen could extend for months. Victor Gonzalez, meanwhile, might not be back at all this season.

One day after saying Treinen was going to have his sore shoulder re-examined Monday in Los Angeles, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Treinen had opted against that and chosen to follow a rehab program instead, a process that could last deep into the season.

“Right now, he’s just going to rehab,” Roberts said Sunday. “He’s still not playing catch so I don’t have a timetable. I will say it’s safe to say his value for us is during the stretch run – whatever that means. So we’re going to take our time with him and do everything we can to make sure he’s ready for the second half of the season.”

Treinen has said he first felt pain in his shoulder before his appearance against the Cincinnati Reds on April 14 and then again when he tried playing catch before the game the next day.

The Dodgers stayed away from using him in a game over the next week, hoping a trip to the injured list wouldn’t be necessary. Even after placing him on the IL, the Dodgers characterized it as a short-term situation. That has clearly changed and Roberts could offer no explanation for Treinen’s decision not to have his shoulder re-examined.

“He was 96 (mph) in his last outing and then comes in (and says), ‘My shoulder is sore,’” Roberts said. “And it’s like, ‘I just need a couple days.’ We kept him off the IL. Next thing you know, it’s not bouncing back and now it’s the stretch run.”

Gonzalez, meanwhile, opened the season on the IL with elbow inflammation and had been trying to rehab at the Dodgers’ Camelback Ranch complex. But the elbow did not improve and now he is scheduled to have arthroscopic surgery Wednesday. The procedure is expected to be a debridement but the extent of what doctors need to do will determine his potential return date.

“Our hope is that he still will be back at some point in time at the end of the year,” Roberts said.

STARTING BACK

Left-hander Andrew Heaney, meanwhile, said he has turned the corner with his shoulder injury and has been cleared to start a throwing program Monday in Pittsburgh.

Heaney has been sidelined since making his second start of the season April 17.

“Frustrating is probably more the word for it,” Heaney said of his time spent waiting for the shoulder pain to subside. “I was off to a good start then had a setback. This sucks. It’s a long season. I keep telling myself that. There’s a lot of time. I think everybody here understands the long term involved here. So it’s easier to try and put it in that perspective.

“It was April, you know what I mean? Now it’s just barely May. So I’m just going to keep telling myself that.”

There is no timeline for Heaney’s return to the rotation but he will have to progress from playing catch Monday to throwing long toss, throwing off a bullpen and then go on a minor-league injury-rehabilitation assignment.

“I think throwing is kind of going to dictate that,” Heaney said of how long the process might take.

“Day by day. Fast as possible. Obviously I want to get back out there. … day by day. I know that sucks to say.”

WEDNESDAY’S STARTER

Thanks to Saturday’s doubleheader, the Dodgers will need a spot starter for Wednesday’s game in Pittsburgh.

Roberts said Andre Jackson, Ryan Pepiot and Robbie Erlin are candidates. Jackson pitched most recently Thursday for Triple-A Oklahoma City so he would be on five days’ rest Wedneday. Pepiot pitched on Friday and would be on four days’ rest. Erlin was added to the Dodgers’ roster for the doubleheader Saturday and has not pitched in over a week.

Pepiot (2-0 with a 2.06 ERA in six starts for OKC) would be the more complicated choice because he is not on the 40-man roster yet.

“Honestly, we’re still in talks,” Roberts said.

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ROSTER MOVES

The Dodgers optioned left-hander Justin Bruihl to OKC on Sunday in order to get down to 26 players on the active roster. Erlin was added as the 27th man allowed for doubleheaders Saturday. His ability to give the Dodgers more length out of the bullpen worked in his favor despite Bruihl, a one-inning reliever, being an important piece among the Dodgers’ relievers.

Meanwhile, right-hander Carson Fulmer has cleared waivers and rejoined OKC. Fulmer was designated for assignment last week after a brief callup to the Dodgers as a COVID-19 replacement.

UP NEXT

Dodgers (LHP Julio Urias, 2-1, 1.88 ERA2 ERA) at Pirates (LHP Jose Quintana, 0-1, 3.38 ERA), 3:35 p.m. Monday, SportsNet LA, 570 AM