The Los Angeles Dodgers' pursuit of the pennant in 2013 avoided one major pitfall Monday as star Zack Greinke avoided potentially major surgery.
An examination of Greinke's elbow found no major structural damage, according to USA Today, and the Dodgers' pitcher is expected to be back on the mound Wednesday.
Greinke, a former All-Star and 2009 AL CY Young Winner, felt irritation in his elbow on Sunday, prompting the Dodgers to take precautionary measures with their star pitcher.
As one of the most sought-after free agents in the last off-season, the Dodgers made Greinke the richest right-handed pitcher in MLB history last winter when they signed him for six years and $147 million.
He finished last season with a 6-2 win-loss record for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim with a 3.53 ERA and 78 strikeouts over 13 game, and has a 91-78 career record over nine major league seasons compiling a career 3.73 ERA with 1,332 strikeouts.
While Greinke has no history of elbow trouble, the Dodgers have plenty of pitching talent in stock to fill in should any further trouble develop with the right hander, including projected starters Clayton Kershaw, Josh Beckett, Chad Billingsley and Hyun-jin Ryu, with Chris Capuano, Aaron Harang and Ted Lilly also having been invited to spring training.