Hanley Ramirez returns, Dodgers option Erisbel Arruebarrena to Rancho Cucamonga.

Hanley Ramirez

Hanley Ramirez spent the minimum time on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right oblique muscle. (Getty Images)

Hanley Ramirez was in the Dodgers’ starting lineup Sunday for the first time since he strained a right oblique muscle August 8 in Milwaukee. Ramirez was batting fourth then, and has batted either second, third or fourth every time he’s been in the lineup this year.

Why is he batting fifth today?

“I wanted to let Hanley get back into the flow,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. “It’s been a little bit of time. He doesn’t really have a history with (New York Mets starter Bartolo) Colon. Matt’s got a little history.”

Dee Gordon is leading off, Yasiel Puig is batting second, Adrian Gonzalez is third and Matt Kemp fourth — the same order Mattingly has used in 10 of the 13 games since Ramirez was placed on the disabled list.

“We’re not really going to try to be that cautious,” Mattingly said. “We’re going to play him. We’re not going to run him into the ground. If he’s not feeling good we’re going to give him a break. With the days off coming, just kind of play it by ear. Play one, got one off. Play two, got another one off. Then we’ve got six in a row. Unless we’ve got something going on, he should be fairly rested.”
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Erisbel Arruebarrena gives Dodgers a blank slate at the plate.

The Dodgers recalled Erisbel Arruebarrena from the Rookie-level Arizona League Dodgers, where he had been rehabbing. Evidently, the rookie shortstop’s sore shoulder was the only reason he wasn’t recalled sooner. Carlos Triunfel, who got the call-up Saturday when Juan Uribe was placed on the 15-day disabled list, was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque.

Arruebarrena has played some second base and third base this season for Triple-A Albuquerque. His job with the Dodgers will be at shortstop, where he saw action in eight games in May and June, making no errors and batting .313 (5 for 16).
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Hanley Ramirez’s stubbornness is on track to relegate Miguel Rojas to the bench.

Hanley Ramirez

Hanley Ramirez is on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right oblique muscle. (Getty Images)


Hanley Ramirez turned a few heads Saturday by taking ground balls at third base before the Dodgers’ game against the Milwaukee Brewers.

That was the point, manager Don Mattingly said Sunday.

“I think he likes making everybody raise their eyes and making me answer questions,” Mattingly said.

Question: will Ramirez be a third baseman once he’s activated from the 15-day disabled list?

“No real talk of that,” Mattingly said.

Continue reading “Hanley Ramirez’s stubbornness is on track to relegate Miguel Rojas to the bench.” »

Adjustments, playing time contributed to three-hit game for Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas.

Miguel Rojas

Miguel Rojas had a career-high three hits Sunday in Milwaukee. (Keith Birmingham/Staff photo)

I didn’t mention it in last night’s game story, but Miguel Rojas‘ three hits were a career-high.

Rojas said after the game that two things are paying off for him right now. One is an increase in playing time since Hanley Ramirez suffered his latest injury, a strained right oblique muscle.

Another is some recent work in the batting cage that led Rojas to make some adjustments at the plate.

Specifically?

“Trying to swing at strikes,” he said. “It’s not mechanical. It’s all mental.”
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Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez sits for middle game in Milwaukee. Update.

Hanley Ramirez

Hanley Ramirez walked in his only plate appearance Friday in Milwaukee. (Getty Images)

MILWAUKEE — Hanley Ramirez is not in the lineup one day after pain in his right side forced him to leave the Dodgers’ game against the Brewers. Ramirez walked in his only plate appearance Friday in the Dodgers’ 9-3 loss.

Ramirez was scheduled to undergo an MRI exam today. The results haven’t been made available yet. Ramirez hasn’t been placed on the disabled list this season.

Update (2:45 p.m.): Ramirez was scheduled to undergo the MRI around 2 p.m. PST, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said, for an injury involving his oblique muscle. “They’re pretty serious as far as I’m concerned,” Mattingly said, “because they don’t allow you to do anything. That’s the area. The MRI will give us a good indication of severity, swelling, bleeding or any of that stuff.”

Miguel Rojas is starting at shortstop in Ramirez’s place. The full lineup:

Dee Gordon 2B
Yasiel Puig CF
Adrian Gonzalez 1B
Matt Kemp RF
Carl Crawford LF
Juan Uribe 3B
A.J. Ellis C
Miguel Rojas SS
Zack Greinke P