LOS ANGELES – The Dodgers haven’t yet made the move official, but it appears more and more likely that shortstop Hanley Ramirez will land on the disabled list, probably Thursday. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly called Thursday a “drop-dead date,” for making a decision on Ramirez’s short-term future.
That’s because the Dodgers could put Ramirez on the DL Thursday in Colorado and have him eligible to return July 18, the day they return from the All-Star break. They would miss him for just 10 games in such a scenario, the one they’re leaning toward.
Ramirez has been bothered by both shoulder and calf pain over the past few weeks. He has had four plate appearances since June 23.
“We don’t want to DL anyone and, obviously, we’re better with Hanley,” Mattingly said, “but we also want him healthy.”
Ramirez, who is a free agent next winter, hasn’t been on the DL this season. He was limited to 86 games last year with thumb and hamstring injuries.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers fielded a lineup missing four regulars for Wednesday’s day game with the Cleveland Indians. Mattingly said Yasiel Puig has appeared tired to him, that Juan Uribe needs days off as he returns from a strained hamstring and Adrian Gonzalez felt some stiffness in his neck late in Tuesday night’s game. Mattingly said he hopes all three players will return to the lineup Thursday.
