Dodgers trade Carlos Ruiz to Seattle; return unknown. Update.

Ross Stripling Carlos Ruiz

Carlos Ruiz, left, played 21 games for the Dodgers after he was acquired in a trade from the Philadelphia Phillies. (Getty Images)

The Dodgers exercised the contract option of catcher Carlos Ruiz and traded him to the Seattle Mariners. The return is not yet known; according to one report the Dodgers will receive a pitcher on the Mariners’ 40-man roster.

Update (9:45 p.m.): The Dodgers will receive left-handed pitcher Vidal Nuno from the Mariners, according to multiple reports Sunday night. Nuno pitched 55 games for the Mariners last season, all but one out of the bullpen, and went 1-1 with a 3.53 ERA in 58 ⅔ innings. The left-hander walked 1.7 batters per nine innings and struck out 7.8. Club officials declined to confirm the reports because the trade hasn’t been finalized.

Ruiz, 37, was acquired in an Aug. 25 trade with the Philadelphia Phillies for veteran catcher A.J. Ellis and minor league pitcher Tommy Bergjans. He threw out 41.7 percent of attempted base stealers in 2016, the best mark in baseball. Acquired to shore up the Dodgers’ struggles against left-handed pitching, Ruiz reached base in 11 of his 29 plate appearances against lefties in the regular season.

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NLCS Game 5: Dodgers, Cubs lineups.

Elana Morales polishes the giant Tommy Lasorda replica championship ring at Dodger Stadium before the start of Game 4 of the National League Championship Series. (Stephen Carr/Staff photographer)

Elana Morales polishes the giant Tommy Lasorda replica championship ring at Dodger Stadium before the start of Game 4 of the National League Championship Series. (Stephen Carr/Staff photographer)

The Dodgers are facing Chicago Cubs pitcher Jon Lester today for the second time in less than a week. Manager Dave Roberts brought back the same starting nine from Game 1, but shook up the batting order.

Carlos Ruiz is batting cleanup for the first time since May. Adrian Gonzalez is batting sixth for the first time since June 16, 2012 — when he started in right field for the Boston Red Sox.

“It’s the same eight guys, but as far as where to put guys, it’s a little bit of a Lester thing, a little bit of a left-handed thing,” Roberts said. “Four-five-six, there’s going to be some opportunities there. Those three guys, I feel good to drive in a run.”

Here are the complete lineups for both teams:

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NLDS Game 3: Washington Nationals put Dodgers’ season on the brink.

Josh Reddick catch

Dodgers right fielder Josh Reddick misses a catch at the wall during the ninth inning of the Washington Nationals’ 8-3 win in Game 3 of their National League Division Series. (Stephen Carr/Staff photographer)

LOS ANGELES >> The Dodgers’ season might be over tomorrow, as the Washington Nationals pulled away late to win Game 3 of the best-of-five National League Division Series 8-3. The box score is here. The photo gallery is here.

The Dodgers fell short against a left-handed pitcher again, writes columnist Mark Whicker.

Carlos Ruiz delivered a vintage home run. (“The truth is,” he would say later in Spanish, “I enjoyed it in the moment because I was able to get the team closer since we were down at that moment.”)

The Game 4 starters for both teams are undecided; the Dodgers must choose between Clayton Kershaw and Julio UriasColumnist Jeff Miller thinks it’s an easy choice.

Here’s what they were saying after the game:
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The Dodgers’ NLDS roster: This is not a guess.

Austin Barnes

Austin Barnes is appears much smaller than his teammates, who are standing on the pitchers’ mound during a workout at Dodger Stadium on Monday. The Dodgers held a workout at Dodger Stadium in preparation for their National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals, which begins Friday in Washington, D.C. (John McCoy/Staff photographer)

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed the team’s roster for the National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals, which begins Friday. Our first and second guesses were both wrong.

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Dodgers engage in a bit of roster trickery to bolster their bullpen.

Kenta Maeda

Kenta Maeda leads the Dodgers in innings pitched this season, but he’ll spent three days on the roster of the Rookie-level Arizona League Dodgers. (Denver Post photo)

Prior to Friday’s game against the Chicago Cubs, the Dodgers optioned their top starting pitcher to their lowest minor league affiliate.

Why is Kenta Maeda a member of the Arizona League Dodgers tonight?

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