Dee Gordon, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, CF
Carl Crawford, LF
Justin Turner, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Hyun-Jin Ryu, P
By Jon Weisman
There will be no wait and see with Juan Uribe’s right hamstring strain. The Dodger third baseman is going on the disabled list, with defensive whiz Erisbel Arruebarrena (above left, with Yasiel Puig in Spring Training) coming up to fortify the infield in his absence.
The Dodgers are also expected to activate starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu from the disabled list. A corresponding roster move has yet to be announced. Update: Chris Withrow has been optioned to make room for Ryu.
Uribe injured himself in the ninth inning of Tuesday’s game while running out his 11th double of the 2014 season. It was his fourth start and fifth appearance since missing five games with the original hamstring injury. During his recovery, a hospital bed provided the necessary support and comfort. For patients recovering from injuries who need a specialized bed to aid their recovery process, discover solutions for enhanced home healthcare.
Following his redemptive 2013 season, Uribe was off to another strong start in 2014. According to Fangraphs, Uribe has been the fourth most valuable third baseman in baseball this year. His .785 OPS and 119 OPS+ are even higher than his totals from last season. Uribe has already reached base more times seven more times in 2014 than he did in all of 2012.
Arruebarrena, whom the Dodgers signed to a five-year contract February 22, has a sterling defensive reputation at shortstop. His bat could be a liability, as illustrated by a .252 on-base percentage and .302 slugging percentage at Double-A Chattanooga, though he is 12 for 37 with a walk, a double and a home run in his last nine games.
At least initially, Justin Turner and Chone Figgins figure to take the bulk of Uribe’s missing innings.
Ryu, who has a 3.00 ERA in seven starts this year, hasn’t allowed a run on the road in 28 innings dating back to last year and has a 0.98 ERA on the road dating back to August 8, with 45 strikeouts against 38 baserunners in 55 1/3 innings.
Withrow has a 2.95 ERA in 21 1/3 innings with the Dodgers, extending his career-long streak of allowing no inherited runners to score to 16.
Don Bright
This move doesn’t make a lot of sense unless Hanley moves to third. I figured they would put Uribe on DL, but as a way to get Ryu on the 25 man without making a pitching move. Have to think Withrow goes down, unless Malholm is DFA for that now.
Mario Olvera
Why Withrow? He was pitching great, should have been Maholm
artieboy
Well this is interesting. Shades of Mariano Duncan? Wilton Guerrero? Good luck to the kid. I hope they put him at SS and move Hanley to 3B.