"In all fairness to the young man, we pretty much had him earmarked to be in our bullpen," Torre said. "We sort of forced him into starting because we really didn't have anyone else."

McDonald, the organization's minor league pitcher of the year each of the past two seasons, seemed destined to make the opening day roster after his two-game stint in last year's playoffs, when he pitched 5 1/3 innings of scoreless relief in the NLCS.

And he did. But lacking a true fifth starter, the Dodgers tabbed McDonald for the role. His stint was shaky from the beginning. McDonald has started four games and made one relief appearance, going 1-1 with an 8.16 ERA and 14 walks.

His last start, a 1 2/3-inning appearance Thursday against the Padres, proved to Torre that McDonald would be better suited in a less demanding role.

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LUCKY DAY FOR WOLF

For those thinking, "Who in the world picked 50-1 long shot Mine That Bird to win the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby?" here's one: Dodgers pitcher Randy Wolf.

Wolf took home a considerable pot in the team's Derby pool. But he wasn't without help. Outfielder Matt Kemp actually suggested the horse.

"It's going to be a good day for you," Kemp told Wolf, who pitched 5 1/3 innings and gave up one earned run and two hits.

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KUO GOES ON DL

Pitching in the bullpen during the late innings of Friday's win over the Padres, Hong-Chih Kuo missed the plate repeatedly. On Saturday the Dodgers placed him on the 15-day disabled list with a sore elbow.

"There's never been a day where it hasn't hurt," Torre said of Kuo's surgically repaired elbow. "I guess this is just something that's never gone away."

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BIG NUMBER

6 . . . Combined hits given up by Dodgers starters Clayton Kershaw and Randy Wolf over the past two starts against the Padres.