Kenley Jansen’s fate to be decided Tuesday

Kenley Jansen will learn Tuesday if he will pitch again this season.

That is the day the Dodgers’ closer will visit a heart specialist who will tell him whether he has to continue taking blood-thinning medication.

If Jansen stops taking the medication, he can pitch as early as Sept. 7 in San Francisco. If he has to continue taking it, he will be out four weeks.

The medication is designed to prevent clots and strokes. But if Jansen is struck with a baseball while on it, he could bleed to death.

Because of that danger, Jansen will have to remain in the clubhouse during games.

Jansen, who threw a 25-pitch bullpen session Friday, felt his heart beating irregularly while on the trainer’s table in Colorado on Tuesday. He knew something was wrong because he had a similar experience last year, when the condition forced him to be sidelined for a month.

Jansen was hospitalized in Denver on Tuesday and released the next day.

“It’s frustrating,” Jansen said.

If Jansen is cleared to play, Manager Don Mattingly said he would be reinstalled as the team’s closer. For now, Ronald Belisario and Brandon League will be splitting closing duties.
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