L.A. Times, Ben Bolch:

Though Jeff Mathis has started every game since Napoli was injured Friday, Scioscia said Ryan Budde probably would start during the four-game series in Oakland that begins tonight.

The possibility of Juan Rivera returning this season from a broken left leg diminishes as the end of the minor league season draws closer. The outfielder still has not begun a rehabilitation assignment that could require several weeks, and there will be few options for him to round into playing shape once the minor league season concludes in early September.

“Hopefully, there will be enough games in a minor league schedule somewhere to get him at-bats to see where he is,” Scioscia said. There is still no target date for the start of Rivera’s rehabilitation assignment.

Scioscia acknowledged that third baseman Dallas McPherson, recovering from lower back surgery that has sidelined him since January, is not expected to return this season. . . . Ervin Santana was rocked for a second consecutive start at triple-A Salt Lake, giving up 13 hits and six runs in six innings, striking out seven and walking one. The right-hander has a 6.05 earned-run average in three starts at Salt Lake.