Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Tuesday that he wants catcher A.J. Ellis to play in fewer than the 133 games he appeared in last year.

Ellis faded down the stretch in 2012, batting .218 in September and October. He underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee after the season.

“We felt like A.J. probably played a little bit too much last year,” Mattingly said. “Probably should’ve gotten him a few more days. … In a sense he was kind of up and down. I just think in general (he played) just a little too much. I’m not really saying that it went bad. I knew what I was doing.”

Backup catcher Matt Treanor played 36 games last season, an average of six games a month. Tim Federowicz, or whoever the backup is, can expect to play more in 2013. Mattingly said he didn’t have an exact number in mind.

“Not so much an exact number, but more just being able to use that other guy, keep him sharp also so we can work both of ‘em,” he said.