PHOENIX -- There was nothing definitive about Jeff Kent's knee injury, other than it was serious enough for the 40-year-old second baseman to return to Los Angeles for an MRI and a Saturday night exam by club surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache.

Kent came out of Friday night's crucial game with the D-backs in the seventh inning, his knee locked up in too much pain to take an at-bat with Manny Ramirez in scoring position after a double. Kent said he was worried about the knee, which was clicking and popping, all likely signs of cartilage damage. He said he's been playing in pain for more than a month.

"I'm not saying it wasn't serious to begin with, but it's the difference between playing the game and not playing the game," manager Joe Torre said. "It's the difference between able and unable."

Torre also issued less-than-rosy updates on Jason Schmidt and Rafael Furcal. Schmidt threw a scoreless inning for Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday night, but Torre conceded for the first time that Schmidt is not likely to pitch for the Dodgers after he makes his final Minor League outing Monday.

"His velocity was in the 80s," Torre said. "I don't think we're looking at him being active for us the rest of the season. The doctors have to decide what's best for him."

Whether that means the club will find offseason opportunities for Schmidt to pitch, or whether that means another exploratory operation might be necessary, is not clear.

Torre said shortstop Furcal will resume rehabbing from back surgery in Arizona on Monday after attending to personal business in the Dominican Republic and is expected in Los Angeles by the end of next week.

"Then we'll have a better idea where we are with him and how soon he joins us -- if he is going to join us," Torre said.

Although rosters are allowed to expand from 25 to 40 Monday, the Dodgers were a man short Saturday. If Kent is done for the year, and perhaps a career, the club likely would place him on the 60-day disabled list to free up a 40-man roster spot to add a player.

There will be plenty of injured players added Monday or soon thereafter. Reliever Scott Proctor (elbow) will be activated off the disabled list. Outfielder Delwyn Young (oblique muscle) is set to return.

Andruw Jones (knee) might be activated Monday, however, he returned to Los Angeles Saturday from a Minor League rehab stint with Las Vegas to have his right knee examined. That's the knee that was surgically repaired at midseason, although the discomfort is in a different area.

There is still hope that Brad Penny (shoulder) and even Takashi Saito (elbow) can return to the club, although that won't happen Monday. Saito is scheduled for his second mound appearance Sunday.

Additionally, the Dodgers plan to call up a handful of Minor Leaguers who actually are healthy. They include pitchers Clayton Kershaw, Eric Stults and James McDonald, catcher A.J. Ellis and shortstop Chin-lung Hu. Other candidates are outfielders Jason Repko and Xavier Paul.