For the third consecutive day, disabled pitcher Hiroki Kuroda played catch on flat ground in the outfield with trainer Stan Conte, but the session stopped after only a handful of throws. Kuroda said he was told to cut it off and preserve himself for Thursday, when he would throw farther with more intensity. Manager Joe Torre said if Kuroda’s progress continues, he could be only days away from starting to throw from a mound. Kuroda has been disabled since April 7 with a strained oblique muscle. — Ken Gurnick