Jon Garland injured in Dodgers game

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Jon Garland left Wednesday’s game with an injury that could force the Dodgers to scramble for a fifth starter in their starting rotation.

Garland clutched his left side in the second inning after delivering ball one to Josh Wilson of the Seattle Mariners. He left the game holding his side and, although the Dodgers have not identified the problems, his actions were consistent with an oblique injury, which can require a month or more of recovery.

With Vicente Padilla already out after surgery to repair a nerve below his right elbow, the Dodgers now have four healthy starters -- Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Hiroki Kuroda and Ted Lilly.

The top candidates for the No. 5 spot, if Garland is seriously injured, are John Ely, who has thrown six scoreless innings this spring, and Tim Redding, who has thrown eight scoreless innings.

-- Bill Shaikin in Glendale, Ariz.