PHOENIX — After serving as one of two designated hitters during left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu’s simulated game, Juan Uribe ran the bases well enough Wednesday for Dodgers manager Don Mattingly to say the third baseman is on track to be activated from the disabled list on or around his Sunday date of eligibility.
Uribe has been on the DL since Aug. 16 with a strained right hamstring, the same injury that sidelined Uribe for five weeks in the middle of this season.
In Uribe’s absence, Justin Turner has picked up most of the playing time at third base. Turner is having a remarkable offensive season for a role player. Since May 23, he has the highest batting average (.364) and the highest average with runners in scoring position (.420) in the Majors (min. 150 plate appearances).
Uribe, however, has augmented his Gold Glove-caliber defense with a .293 batting average, which would his highest since he hit .300 in 72 games as a rookie in 2001 with the Rockies.
Van Slyke exits with ankle sprain vs. D-backs
PHOENIX — Dodgers left fielder Scott Van Slyke turned his right ankle in the fourth inning and left Wednesday night’s game with the D-backs.
Van Slyke, who homered in the third inning, was diagnosed with a mild right ankle sprain and the club announced he was day to day.
Van Slyke was backing up center fielder Yasiel Puig, who short-hopped a sinking liner by Jordan Pacheco. The ball glanced off Puig’s glove into the direction of Van Slyke. As he picked up the ball with his bare hand and planted his right leg, his right ankle turned badly and he collapsed to the turf.
Still on the ground, Van Slyke flipped a wild throw toward the infield that allowed Alfredo Marte to score and Pacheco to take second base.
Van Slyke was able to walk off the field with Dodgers VP of medical services Stan Conte and was replaced by Carl Crawford.
Van Slyke was charged with a throwing error and the run against Clayton Kershaw was unearned. The Dodgers finished the inning with a 3-1 lead.
Ryu free of pain after sim game; return near
PHOENIX — Dodgers pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu said he felt no pain while throwing a two-inning simulated game on Wednesday and could return to the starting rotation Sunday or Monday.
Ryu is eligible to return from the disabled list on Friday from a strained right gluteus muscle. Manager Don Mattingly has already named Dan Haren and Zack Greinke as starters Friday and Saturday against San Diego.
Mattingly said he would see how Ryu comes out of the workout before deciding which game Ryu would start. The left-hander has allowed the Padres only one run in 19 innings this year, but a return against Washington on Monday (after rosters expand) would not necessitate a player move.
Mattingly and pitching coach Rick Honeycutt watched as Ryu faced batters Juan Uribe and Drew Butera. Ryu appeared to throw free and easy, showing no signs of the injury.
After the two innings, Ryu made several repetitions covering first base.
After Ryu’s workout, Greinke threw a bullpen session. Greinke had been skipping those between-start sessions when his elbow was tender, an ailment that led to his most recent start being pushed back two days.
Workhorse Adrian gets a rare rest
PHOENIX — By giving Adrian Gonzalez Wednesday night off before Thursday’s off-day, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly is hoping to help manage the lower back stiffness with which his run-producing first baseman is dealing.
Gonzalez is second in the league with 90 RBIs (his eighth consecutive season with at least that many) while leading the Dodgers with 18 home runs and 130 games played.
“We feel like giving him today gives him two, almost three days off,” said Mattingly.
Gonzalez is 4-for-18 with a homer and seven strikeouts against Wade Miley, Arizona’s starter Wednesday night. Justin Turner started at first base.
Ken Gurnick is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.