Dodgers lefthander Scott Elbert has been sidelined with shoulder soreness ever since his last start . . . and that was two weeks ago.

This season, Elbert is 0-1, 3.86 with a 24-10 strikeout-walk ratio in 14 innings at Double-A Jacksonville. The Dodgers are being understandably cautious with their 2004 first-round pick, whom they signed for $1.575 million.

Elbert has not officially gone on the disabled list and has not left the club. He threw a bullpen last week, but farm director De Jon Watson said the Dodgers will take it slowly with the 21 year-old.

“He had some tenderness and we decided to slow him down a little bit,” Watson said. “He’s back throwing now, and should be back in game relatively soon. It’s just a matter of how he feels–we’re not going to rush him.”