PHOENIX — The Los Angeles Dodgers have placed opening day starter Hiroki Kuroda on the 15-day disabled list with a mild strain in a muscle near his left ribs.

The move was made before tonight's game against Arizona and is retroactive to Kuroda's start Monday at San Diego.

Manager Joe Torre said the Japanese right-hander felt fine after his start but experienced tightness in his left side late in his side session in the bullpen on Wednesday.

He returned to Los Angeles where an MRI exam showed no structural damage. But Karoda felt the tightness again when he threw off the mound Friday and the decision was made to place him on the disabled list.

Left-hander Eric Stults was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque to start against Arizona on Saturday.