Some unexpected news out of the Dodgers organization this afternoon as reliever Matt Guerrier (0-1, 2.70 ERA) has been placed on the 15-day DL with right elbow tendinitis, retroactive to April 19, the day after he allowed the game-losing run to the Brewers on three walks in 0.2 innings.

Replacing Guerrier will be 26-year old lefty Michael Antonini, a reliever acquired in the Chin-Lung Hu trade back in December, 2010.

After the 2008 season Antonini was ranked as the 15th-ranked prospect in the New York Mets farm system by Baseball America.

Antonini has pitched in four games this season for Triple-A Albuquerque, starting in three, posting a 1-0 record with a 4.26 ERA. He holds a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.00.

Michael by no means will be a high-profile reliever in the name of Javy Guerra or Kenley Jansen, but could be utilized in a role where he specializes against lefties. He is prone to giving up the long ball, allowing 1.9 home runs per nine innings.

Antonini has struggled in the higher levels of the Minor League system, but could benefit greatly from the teachings of Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt, who has helped guide the bullpen to a 3.12 ERA and a .212 BAA.

For those that care, Michael will be wearing #56, formerly of Hong-Chih Kuo.

As for Guerrier, his back problems caused him to miss most of Spring Training. He may have been rushed. I would say about three weeks on the disabled list sounds about right. His first five appearances were superb, but cause for concern settled in for the final two.