Tag Archives: A.J. Ellis

A.J. Ellis watched video to prepare to catch Zack Greinke in Game 5.

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Zack Greinke

Yasmani Grandal has caught all but six of Zack Greinke’s 33 starts this season, including Game 2 of the National League Division Series. (Associated Press photo)


Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Wednesday that both A.J. Ellis and Yasmani Grandal, who has a sore left shoulder, would prepare to catch Game 5 today.

Grandal is in the starting lineup. Did Ellis do anything extra today compared to a typical day he isn’t starting?

“I came in yesterday knowing what was going on with Yas and how he was feeling and made sure I went over to Zack and watched his game, Game 2 against these guys and how he matched up against the Mets throughout the season,” Ellis said.

“But talking to Yas last night and talking to Yas today, he looks great. He feels great, and I’m excited to watch him go out there and compete with Zack (Greinke). They have a great chemistry together. It’s no secret how well they’ve worked, and it’s all about Zack being comfortable. I think Yas has got some big swings in him tonight too.”

Grandal has caught all but six of Greinke’s starts this season. He has one hit and four striekouts in eight at-bats this series. Ellis has been swinging the hotter bat. He has one hit in each of his two starts this series, extending his postseason hitting streak to 12 games.

Clayton Kershaw out of the bullpen? ‘Even though the moment is huge, what is right?’

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We enjoy ribbing Dodgers manager Don Mattingly here for concealing even the most commonplace details of his game-to-game bullpen strategy. (Is Bronson Arroyo available tonight? Who knows?) This time, we get it.

Mattingly wouldn’t say whether or not Clayton Kershaw would be available out of the bullpen for Game 5 of the National League Division Series, two days after Kershaw pitched the Dodgers to a season-extending victory in Game 4.

“He’s here,” Mattingly said of Kershaw. “I’m not sure what we’ll do with him.”

Continue reading “Clayton Kershaw out of the bullpen? ‘Even though the moment is huge, what is right?’” »

Watch: Don Mattingly on Yasmani Grandal, hitless in his last 33 at-bats.

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SAN DIEGO — Yasmani Grandal would likely not be starting Sunday against the San Diego Padres regardless of his batting line. It’s a day game after a night game, A.J. Ellis hasn’t played in the series, and Brett Anderson (who hasn’t lost a game that Ellis has caught this season) is pitching.

As it stands, Grandal is hitless in his last 33 at-bats, including an 0-for-3 game Saturday in which he was hit by a pitch on his foot. Here’s what Dodgers manager Don Mattingly has noticed from Grandal during his slump:

Yasmani Grandal’s shoulder pain has spread, but he hopes to play Thursday.

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Yasmani Grandal concussion

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal has struggled at the plate since he was struck by a foul ball in his left shoulder. (Associated Press photo)

CINCINNATI — The scary part about Yasmani Grandal‘s left shoulder injury is twofold.

For one thing, it isn’t going away. The first time he missed a game back on Aug. 13, Grandal characterized the problem as a mere bruise. He only missed the one game and was back on the field the next day. But clearly, Grandal still wasn’t right at the plate. He collected one hit, a single, in his next 16 plate appearances, driving his slugging percentage to .471, the lowest it’s been since June.

The other problem, the really scary one, is that it isn’t just a shoulder injury anymore.

“It went down to the ribs, the back of my neck,” he said. “It started at the traps, went to the neck, back, left rib, right rib. The past couple days it’s gotten better.”

Continue reading “Yasmani Grandal’s shoulder pain has spread, but he hopes to play Thursday.” »

Yasmani Grandal, still dealing with sore shoulder, sits in Cincinnati.

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CINCINNATI — Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal, who has 10 hits in 53 August plate appearances, might not be available Tuesday and Wednesday against the Reds because of a sore left shoulder.

Don Mattingly addressed Grandal’s health Tuesday afternoon:

Grandal first mentioned the symptoms to reporters on Aug. 13 and was given a game off that day as a precaution. At the time, Grandal said his shoulder was bruised when he was struck by a foul tip, and downplayed the issue as minor. He has one hit and three walks in 16 plate appearances since.

A.J. Ellis is behind the plate Tuesday catching Alex Wood.