Dodgers place Paco Rodriguez on the disabled list

Reporting from St. Louis â€”  Left-hander Paco Rodriguez has been placed on the disabled list and is scheduled to return to Los Angeles to undergo an examination of his elbow.

“Probably for the past three or four outings, Paco hasn’t felt quite right,� Manager Don Mattingly said. “He just feels like he doesn’t have true finish on the ball. He’s not having any pain per se, but we know he’s having trouble getting extended and finishing pitches.�

The Dodgers listed Rodriguez’s injury as an elbow strain.

“We’re going to try to catch this before it gets to anything,� Mattingly said.

Rodriguez has pitched in 18 games for the Dodgers this season, posting a 2.61 earned-run average.

The Dodgers replaced Rodriguez on their active roster with right-hander Matt West, who was recalled from triple-A Oklahoma City.

West, 26, was acquired by the Dodgers from the Toronto Blue Jays on May 4. As an infielder in rookie ball, West was suspended for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. He later became a pitcher and reached the majors last season with the Texas Rangers, for whom he made three appearances.