Dodgers News: Severity Of Hanley Ramirez’s Calf Soreness Unknown

[new_royalslider id=”147″] Hanley Ramirez was given Friday night off for a normal rest as the Los Angeles Dodgers began a three-game set with the Philadelphia Phillies. The move allowed Erisbel Arruebarrena to make his MLB debut one day after he was called up from double-A Chattanooga.

Ramirez was in Saturday’s lineup, but was scratched minutes before the game began due to calf soreness. During Saturday’s telecast, Alanna Rizzo reported Stan Conte expressed little concern over the strained calf and he expected Ramirez to perhaps miss just one game.

However following the 5-3 loss, manager Don Mattingly was less certain on the status of his shortstop, according to co-host of Dodger Talk on AM 570, David Vasegh:

Don Mattingly said he doesn't know severity of Hanley's injury. Hanley gone from clubhouse when media was allowed in.

— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) May 24, 2014

Trailing by two runs in the ninth inning, the Dodgers had two men reach with Arruebarrena, who is known for his glove and not his bat, due up. The calf soreness was apparently enough to warrant Scott Van Slyke pinch-hitting for Arruebarrena and not Ramirez.

Friday and Saturday marked the second and third games Ramirez has missed this season. The first came one night after he was hit on the hand by a Ryan Vogelsong pitch back in April.

In a contract year, Ramirez has yet to reach the same level of production he put up last season. As was often the case in 2013, as Ramirez went so too have the Dodgers. Without the clutch hitting from their shortstop, the Dodgers haven’t struggled as much this season as Yasiel Puig has managed to carry much of the load.

Should Ramirez miss extended time, it would leave the Dodgers without their starting shortstop and third baseman. It would also come at a time when Alex Guerrero is out for an indefinite period of time after undergoing plastic surgery to have a portion of his ear reattached following the altercation with Miguel Olivo.
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