Dodgers’ Chad Billingsley is cleared to resume throwing

Chad Billingsley was cleared to resume throwing Monday after a second MRI exam of the pitcher’s right elbow showed the same inflammation discovered a day earlier.

But it was unclear when Billingsley might make his next start.

Billingsley was scratched from his scheduled start Sunday because of the soreness, with Chris Capuano taking his place. Nathan Eovaldi’s next start also was moved up one day, to Monday night, but the Dodgers did not say who would pitch Tuesday.

Billingsley was “going to play catch� Monday and “see where he’s at,� Manager Don Mattingly said. As for Tuesday’s starter, Mattingly said, “We’ll make that decision tomorrow.�

If Billingsley can’t pitch Tuesday and the Dodgers have to turn to a minor leaguer on the 40-man roster, it might be Stephen Fife, a right-hander at triple-A Albuquerque. Fife was scratched from his scheduled start Monday.

Billingsley said the soreness was “something I’ve always had to deal with throughout the course of my career,� but that it reached a point where he told the team’s trainers that his “elbow’s barking a bit.� That led Mattingly to scratch him Sunday.

Billingsley is 4-9 with a 4.30 earned-run average.

Hamels trade rumors

Trade speculation surrounding Philadelphia Phillies starter Cole Hamels, who is eligible for free agency after this season, has reached a fever pitch ahead of the nonwaiver trade deadline July 31. But Hamels chose not to discuss it Monday.

Asked about his situation, Hamels walked off mid-question. Moments later, when asked if he was willing to talk about the looming trade deadline, he replied, “No, not at all. Sorry.�

Hamels, 28, has yet to sign a contract extension with the Phillies, who are believed to preparing an offer upward of $120 million over six years.

If the two sides can’t reach agreement, Philadelphia might look to trade the left-hander to avoid losing a premier pitcher for minimal compensation after the season. Hamels is 11-4 this year with a 3.07 ERA.

Hamels grew up in San Diego, and the Dodgers and Angels reportedly are among the clubs looking at possibly acquiring him.

Halladay’s return

Roy Halladay, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, was scheduled to come off the disabled list and start Tuesday for the Phillies.

Dodgers right fielder Andre Ethier does not expect the pitcher to show any rust. “I expect him to be tough,� said Ethier, who has seven hits in 10 career at-bats against the right-hander. “He’s coming back fresh and well-rested, and they’re definitely not going to put him out there if he’s not throwing as good as he can.�

Halladay, who went on the disabled list May 28 because of a strain of a muscle on his back and side, is 4-1 lifetime against the Dodgers with a 1.93 ERA.

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