Andre Ethier scratched from Dodgers’ lineup in Game 2 of NLCS; Hanley Ramirez a game-time decision.

Andre Ethier

Andre Ethier played 13 innings in center field in Game 1 and will start Game 2 on the bench. (Associated Press photo)

Dodgers center fielder Andre Ethier played 13 innings in his first game in the field since Sept. 13.

That was more than enough for one day — or two.

Saturday, Ethier arrived at Busch Stadium feeling sore and was given a day off in favor of Skip Schumaker in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said that X-rays on Ethier’s left leg came back negative, but Schumaker will bat seventh and play center field against his former employer, the St. Louis Cardinals.

“He was sore at the end of the game last night,” Mattingly said, which is something that Ethier wouldn’t admit to when surrounded by reporters in the wee hours Saturday morning.

Regardless, Ethier is available to pinch hit and double-switch late in the game today, Mattingly said.

Hanley Ramirez, who was hit by a 95-mph Joe Kelly fastball in the first inning of Game 1, is in the Dodgers’ starting lineup. That could change before 3 p.m. local time, the manager said.

“Hanley’s sore today,” Mattingly said. “He got it pretty good in the ribs. He’s a little iffy for me today.”

Ramirez will receive treatment prior to the game, in addition to the usual treatment on his back that has been keeping him on the field during the playoffs.

Ramirez didn’t have x-rays taken at Busch Stadium. According to Mattingly, the machine here would not give the Dodgers the images they need to draw a firm conclusion about the severity of the injury. Ramirez might go to a hospital for x-rays tomorrow, one of two scheduled off-days during the series.

One more pregame note: The Dodgers used five relievers in Game 1 and all are available today, Mattingly said. Right-hander Chris Withrow isn’t a candidate to throw multiple innings, but that’s the only limitation.

Here are the lineups for both teams:

Dodgers:
Carl Crawford LF
Mark Ellis 2B
Hanley Ramirez SS
Adrian Gonzalez 1B
Yasiel Puig RF
Juan Uribe 3B
Skip Schumaker CF
A.J. Ellis C
Clayton Kershaw P

Cardinals:
Matt Carpenter 2B
Carlos Beltran RF
Matt Holliday LF
Yadier Molina C
David Freese 3B
Matt Adams 1B
Jon Jay CF
Pete Kozma SS
Michael Wacha P

This entry was posted in JP on the Dodgers, Playoffs and tagged , , , , , by J.P. Hoornstra. Bookmark the permalink.

About J.P. Hoornstra

J.P. Hoornstra covers the Dodgers, Angels and Major League Baseball for the Orange County Register, Los Angeles Daily News, Long Beach Press-Telegram, Torrance Daily Breeze, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News, San Bernardino Sun, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Whittier Daily News and Redlands Daily Facts. Before taking the beat in 2012, J.P. covered the NHL for four years. UCLA gave him a degree once upon a time; when he graduated on schedule, he missed getting Arnold Schwarzenegger's autograph on his diploma by five months.