LOS ANGELES — An uncertain winter and a shortened spring training had everyone in MLB worrying about how pitchers would hold up, particularly early in the season.

Those concerns have been justified for the Dodgers. Left-hander Andrew Heaney went on the injured list on Wednesday and will miss at least one start with shoulder discomfort.

Heaney said he felt the pain Monday after throwing 89 pitches and holding the Cincinnati Reds scoreless for six innings on Sunday. Signed as a free agent in November, Heaney has allowed just one unearned run on four hits over 10-1/3 innings in his first two starts for the Dodgers.

“I’ve never really had shoulder stuff,” said Heaney, who did leave a September 2017 start with shoulder tightness while coming back from Tommy John surgery. “If it were an elbow thing, I would know to a ‘T’ what it was. But I’ve never really had shoulder stuff.”

Heaney tried throwing in the outfield before Wednesday’s game.

“It didn’t go good,” he said.

That prompted the Dodgers to place him on the IL and activate utilityman Zach McKinstry before the game.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Heaney was not sent for an MRI but the decision was made to “take it out of his hands, give him some rest.” It is not expected to be a long-term issue, Roberts said. But he could not say when Heaney will resume throwing.

In the meantime, Tyler Anderson will replace Heaney in the rotation and start Saturday in San Diego.

Anderson pitched four innings in each of Tony Gonsolin’s first two starts, following Gonsolin in a “piggyback” situation each time. With Gonsolin taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning Wednesday and completing six innings for the first time since Sept. 2020, Anderson instead threw a bullpen session during the game as preparation for the start Saturday.

Anderson allowed a run on two hits in each of those first two appearances.

If Heaney’s shoulder issue subsides, he would be eligible to return for the Dodgers’ next homestand starting April 29. With off days each of the next two Thursdays, he could miss just one start.

LUX STATUS

Utility player Gavin Lux was scratched from Tuesday’s lineup and did not play Wednesday due to back tightness. Lux said he first felt it when he checked up on a bloop single during Monday’s game.

“I didn’t think anything of it,” Lux said. “But then when I woke up yesterday, it had really tightened up.”

Lux said he was feeling better Wednesday and could have played. Roberts said he expects Lux to be back in the lineup when the Dodgers open a three-game series in San Diego on Friday.

MOOKIE SLUMP

According to Statcast, Mookie Betts did not hit a single ball on the barrel during the Dodgers’ first 11 games. But you couldn’t convince Roberts of that.

“I disagree with that,” he said. “Is it as much as he’s on the barrel typically? No. Not even close. But I think the zero barrels, I think that’s a little farfetched.”

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Betts led off the first inning with a solid single to right field (a 95.4 mph exit velocity) to snap an 0-for-13 slump. But he went hitless the rest of the day and has started the season 8 for 45 (.178) with 12 strikeouts.

“I think long term as far as this season – no,” Roberts said when asked if he was concerned about Betts’ slow start. “He’s healthy. He feels good. Certainly, the at-bats aren’t Mookie-typical. I don’t have an answer right now on why he’s sort of scuffling. He’s just got to continue to put in work and take it one day at a time. But long-term concern, no.”

Bothered by injuries (most prominently a bone spur in his hip), Betts was limited to 122 games last season (his career-low for a full season) and hit a career-low .264 with an .854 OPS (his lowest since 2017).

UP NEXT

The Dodgers are off Thursday.

Dodgers (LHP Julio Urias, 0-1, 3.86 ERA) at Padres (RHP Nick Martinez, 0-1, 4.50 ERA), Friday, 6:40 p.m., SNLA, 570 AM