Dodgers' Kuo takes a break to rest his aching shoulder

Taiwanese pitcher Kuo Hong-chih (郭泓志), who has dropped out of contention for the fifth spot in the Los Angeles Dodgers' starting rotation because of shoulder soreness, will go through two to three weeks of rehabilitation before he resumes throwing.

Kuo has not thrown since Wednesday's spring training start against the New York Mets, in which he allowed two runs in three innings.

The left-hander first felt pain in his shoulder after he threw for 2 1-3 innings against Boston on March 16.

Kuo said he told physical therapists that his shoulder was sore, but was cleared to continue pitching.

He stayed on schedule and threw a bullpen session before his start last week.

"Every day, I felt like I could throw," Kuo said on Sunday. "It felt a little sore during the bullpen session, but that's normal."