Andre Ethier To Rehab With Class A Rancho Cucamonga

The Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to get their pair of two-time All-Star outfielders back on July 13, as Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier are both expected to return from the disabled list for the Dodgers' first game after the break. Kemp is currently playing in a minor league rehab assignment, and Ethier will do the same next week.

Ethier, who is on the disabled list with a strained left oblique, will play in two minor league rehab games with Class A Rancho Cucmonga next Wednesday and Thursday, per Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times. This was a change in thinking from earlier in the week, as manager Don Mattingly said on Wednesday that Ethier likely wouldn't need to play in a rehab game before returning to the Dodgers.

Ethier suffered the oblique injury on June 27 in San Francisco on a check swing against Tim Lincecum of the Giants. He missed six games before getting placed on the disabled list on Wednesday, retroactive to June 28. Ethier was able to return to taking batting practice with the team on Wednesday.

This season, Ethier is hitting .291/.357/.491 with 23 doubles, 10 home runs and 55 RBI in 75 games. He and Kemp have combined to hit 22 of the Dodgers' 48 home runs this season.

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Dodgers Place Andre Ethier On Disabled List, Activate Mark Ellis

The Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday placed right fielder Andre Ethier on the disabled list with a strained left oblique, retroactive to June 28. Ethier suffered the injury on a check swing in San Francisco on June 27.

Ethier returned to taking batting practice with the team on Wednesday, the first time he has done so since suffering the injury. But with the All-Star break approaching and Ethier eligible to return for the Dodgers' first game after the break on July 13, the Dodgers were cautious. Manager Don Mattingly said Ethier would have likely sat on Sunday in Phoenix anyway with a day game after a night game after missing a week.

"The best case scenario was getting to be Friday," Mattingly said. "It didn't make any sense for him to come back for two games."

Ethier said he understood why the Dodgers put him on the disabled list, even if he didn't agree with it.

"I did everything short of begging and pleading not to put me on the DL and let me give it a go, but the decision was put above me to make that call," he said.

With Ethier shelved, the Dodgers activated second baseman Mark Ellis a day before they had originally planned. Ellis, who had been out since leg surgery on May 19, played four rehab games with Class A Rancho Cucamonga.

"The first day I didn't feel great, but then every day got a little bit better," Ellis said. "Yesterday I felt I was ready to go."

Ellis missed 42 games while on the disabled list, and is hitting .273/.373/.364 with 27 runs scored in 37 games this season. Ellis will be available as a reserve on Wednesday, and is expected to start on Thursday when the Dodgers open a four-game series in Phoenix against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

For all your Dodgers news and analysis, be sure to read True Blue LA.

Andre Ethier Could Go On DL As Soon As Wednesday, With Mark Ellis Returning

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been playing a bizarre waiting game with Andre Ethier's left oblique injury for several days, but the wait may come to an end as soon as Wednesday. Ethier hurt his oblique on a check swing last Wednesday in San Francisco, and has missed the previous five games.

Manager Don Mattingly for most of the weekend has said Ethier was day-to-day, but also spoke of Ethier in the same terms as Matt Kemp as two who would return on July 13, the first game for the Dodgers after the All-Star break. Perhaps the Dodgers were waiting, playing a man short, in hopes Ethier would be ready for the upcoming four-game series in Arizona, which begins Thursday.

"We're getting closer to that decision that we have to make," Mattingly said. "He swung in the cage today, but he's not going to take BP today, which keeps pushing him back. Common sense keeps telling us to make a good decision."

That good decision may be placing Ethier on the disabled list on Wednesday, as Ethier did feel something in his left oblique on Tuesday while fouling off a pitch in the batting cage. Second baseman Mark Ellis is playing in his fourth minor league rehab game on Tuesday, and the plan was to activate him Thursday in Arizona. But Mattingly hinted that Ellis could be activated as soon as Wednesday, even if only as a reserve for one day, with Ethier going on the disabled list.

"Everybody who has seen Mark feels like he is ready to go," Mattingly said. "He's pretty much had to do everything that you have to do on the field and he's feeling fine."

Ethier, if he does go on the DL, would be eligible to return by July 13.

For all your Dodgers news and analysis, be sure to read True Blue LA.

Andre Ethier Avoids Disabled List, Day-To-Day With Left Oblique Strain

In an unexpected move, Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Andre Ethier avoided the 15-day disabled list. His strained left oblique, suffered in Wednesday's loss to the San Francisco Giants, showed no swelling and is listed as day-to-day. Ethier hurt himself on a check swing in the first inning against Tim Lincecum, and left the game in the middle of the first inning.

"Yesterday we kind of assumed that we would have a DL situation," said manager Don Mattingly. "The docs looked at it and didn't see any swelling. It couldn't be any better."

Ethier is hitting .291/.357/.491 with 23 doubles, 11 home runs, and 55 RBI in 75 games this season for the Dodgers, who have been without Matt Kemp for 40 of their last 42 games and he isn't expected back until after the All-Star break. The Dodgers were just swept in San Francisco without scoring a run in three games and they have scored 15 runs in their last 10 games.

The Dodgers recalled outfielder Scott Van Slyke from Triple A Albuquerque on Thursday, but not to replace Ethier. Instead, infielder Ivan De Jesus was optioned to Triple A. Van Slyke was hitting .326/.404/.576 with 14 doubles and 10 home runs in 48 games in Triple A this year, and hit .194/.219/.355 earlier this season in 17 games with the Dodgers.

For more on the Dodgers and the Ethier injury, be sure to read True Blue LA.

Andre Ethier Injury: MRI Exam Scheduled Thursday

The Los Angeles Dodgers already have one All-Star outfielder on the disabled list in Matt Kemp, and on Thursday he might have company. Andre Ethier injured his left oblique on Wednesday against the San Francisco Giants and was forced to leave the game after the top of the first inning. Ethier will have an MRI on Thursday in Los Angeles, but it sounds like he could have to go on the disabled list.

Per Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, "The Dodgers say he's day to day, but manager Don Mattingly said when he hears "oblique," he prepares for 20 days."

Ethier is hitting .291/.357/.491 with 23 doubles, 10 home runs, and 55 RBI on the season. However, in the 26 games since Kemp went on the disabled list a second time Ethier has hit just .206/.291/.304 with one home run and 11 RBI.

Ethier signed a five-year, $85 million extension on June 12.

The Dodgers lost Wednesday to the Giants, their eighth loss in their last nine contests, and are now tied with San Francisco for first place in the National League West. The Dodgers are 20-20 during Kemp's two stints on the disabled list with left hamstring strains.

For more on the Dodgers and the Ethier injury, be sure to read True Blue LA.

Dodgers Vs. Giants: Andre Ethier Injures Left Oblique

Tough news for the Los Angeles Dodgers. With the loss of Matt Kemp constantly hampering L.A.'s ability to execute on offense, it's not going to get any easier if Andre Ethier is out for an extended period of time. Ethier suffered a left oblique injury sometime during the first inning. The injury was announced by the team and on the broadcast.

After taking a walk, Ethier left the game after the Dodgers ended the inning on a groundout double play. Ethier didn't take the field in the bottom of the first inning and met with team trainer Sue Falsone. Elian Herrera came into the game in RF. Ethier is batting .291 on the season with an OBP of .355 and a slugging percentage of .491.

The Dodgers are currently trying to avoid a sweep to the rival Giants, but they're currently trailing 3-0.

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