Hanley Ramirez is not in the Dodgers’ starting lineup for Game 6 of the National League Championship Series on Friday in St. Louis.
Ramirez has been attempting to play with a hairline fracture in his left ribcage since he was hit by a pitch there in the first inning of Game 1 of the series. Nick Punto will play shortstop and bat eighth, with Yasiel Puig moving from sixth to fourth in the Dodgers’ lineup.
Dodgers manager Don Mattingly is expected to update Ramirez’s condition shortly.
For the Cardinals, Shane Robinson is taking Jon Jay’s place in center field. Robinson bats right-handed, which Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said was the critical difference against a left-handed pitcher, Clayton Kershaw.
“The thought process is to try to get more offense if we can,” Matheny said. “There’s no secret how Kershaw has done against left-handers. I know (Jay) would have done well today.
“Especially Shane, going off some confidence against a big pinch hit, and we know he plays good defense.”
Here are both teams’ lineups for the 5:30 p.m. game:
Dodgers:
Carl Crawford LF
Mark Ellis 2B
Adrian Gonzalez 1B
Yasiel Puig RF
Andre Ethier CF
Juan Uribe 3B
A.J. Ellis C
Nick Punto SS
Clayton Kershaw P
Cardinals:
Matt Carpenter 2B
Carlos Beltran RF
Matt Holliday LF
Yadier Molina C
David Freese 3B
Matt Adams 1B
Shane Robinson CF
Pete Kozma SS
Michael Wacha P