A.J. Ellis is back on the disabled list after getting hurt on the field, but it wasn’t while playing in a game.
Ellis told reporters he severely sprained his right ankle after he stepped on catcher Drew Butera’s mask celebrating Josh Beckett’s no-hitter Sunday.
Monday, Ellis was put on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 25. Tim Federowicz was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque to take his place. Ellis had recently returned from the DL May 14 after having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.
With Ellis back in the lineup and the starting rotation stacked, the Dodgers were poised to make a run at catching the San Francisco Giants who lead them by 5 1/2 games in the NL West. His absence would see to be a setback but Butera is a player along the same vein of Ellis - a serviceable hitter but a great game manager. He caught Beckett's no-hitter Sunday with Ellis given a day off.
Butera will likely see the most time at catcher with Elllis out.
