Hanley Ramirez, Dodgers await CT scan results

LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez underwent a CT scan of his bruised ribs on Sunday morning, the results of which could determine whether or not he plays in Game 3 of the NLCS on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers have not yet received the results of the CT scan as of Sunday afternoon.

Ramirez said he would try to play through the pain, but it may not be up to him.

"No matter how much Hanley wants to play, there are certain things you're not going to be able to play with," said manager Don Mattingly on Sunday before an optional workout at Dodger Stadium. "You've got to be able to swing the bat."

Ramirez was hit by Joe Kelly fastball in the ribs in the first inning of Game 1 on Friday. He played the remainder of the game and went 0-for-2 with three walks, including two intentionally. But he was sore after Game 1 and before Game 2, and after he was unable to swing a bat during Saturday's pregame he was scratched from the starting lineup.

He was sent to a local hospital in St. Louis on Saturday for X-rays, which were negative.

Ramirez said he could barely sleep with the rib injury. After the CT scan Sunday morning he came to Dodger Stadium, where he has been receiving treatment every 20-25 minutes.

Ramirez said had there been a game Sunday he would not have been able to play, but he's hopeful he will be able to by Monday night.

"I'm trying to stay positive," Ramirez said. "It's an uncomfortable injury. I'm just going to try to deal with it.

"I'm going to keep swinging the way I'm swinging, keep playing the way I play. It's not going to change that."

It has been an injury-plagued campaign for Ramirez in 2013, but when on the field he's been one of the best players in baseball. In 86 games he hit .345/.402/.638 with 25 doubles and 20 home runs, and despite missing 76 games was second on the team with 57 RBI. In five playoff games he has hit .444/.583/.944 with four doubles, a triple and a home run. He tied a Dodgers postseason series record with six extra-base hits against the Braves in the NLDS.

Ramirez has missed time this season with a dislocated thumb, a left hamstring strain, a sore right shoulder, an irritated nerve in his back, and now bruised ribs.

Dodgers shortstops this season other than Ramirez have hit .208/.280/.280 in 361 plate appearances, including the playoffs. The Dodgers are 54-28 when Ramirez starts this season, and 41-45 when he doesn't. But he downplayed his importance to the lineup.

"I'm just one guy," Ramirez said. "It's not tennis. There are 25 guys here."

Mattingly said with Ramirez or without, the Dodgers will have to score runs to win.

"It's just not a time for excuses. At the end of the day, you either win or you lose," Mattingly said. "I think the excuses of Hanley's not in the lineup, a psychological letdown, you can have all of that but it's not going to do you any goo. We ha chances to win in the last two games. We just didn't get it done. We didn't get the hit when we needed it."