Mark Ellis injury: No MRI exam, no DL yet for Dodgers 2B

The Dodgers won't have the services of Mark Ellis for at least Saturday night and possibly the weekend, but the second baseman hasn't been placed on the disabled list just yet. Ellis strained his right quad and left in the fifth inning on Friday night against the Brewers.

Ellis was said to be feeling much better on Saturday, so much so that he didn't even have an MRI exam. He walked on the aquatic treadmill underwater Saturday in the Dodgers' new training facility to test the leg.

"I hate to say it, but I feel like it's good news because it's not like he walks in today and he has to be on the list. He was really good today," said manager Don Mattingly. "Let's see what he looks like tomorrow, and we'll be closer to making a decision tomorrow. Obviously we'll bite the bullet for a day or two, and see where we're at."

Ellis was replaced at second base by Skip Schumaker on Saturday, while catcher A.J. Ellis stepped into the second spot in the batting order.

"I felt so good about Ellis, I had to have an Ellis up there. It didn't matter which one," quipped Mattingly before the game, and before Adrian Gonzalez was scratched. "With Schu in the lineup, I had to figure out a way to split. It was either A.J. up there, or Juan or Cruzer. I felt better with A.J. up there, to get those lefties apart a bit."

If the Dodgers do decide to place Mark Ellis on the disabled list, a name to consider is Alex Castellanos, who is on the 40-man and could occupy a bench spot if called up. It may be unrelated, but Castellanos did not start for Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday night despite having a seven-game hitting streak.