Hanley Ramirez injury: Dodgers SS out with tight hamstring vs. Braves

The Dodgers are without Hanley Ramirez for a second straight game against the Braves at Dodger Stadium, only Friday night isn't a scheduled day of rest. Ramirez has tightness in his left hamstring, the same one that landed him on the disabled list for a month with a strain, per Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.

It's far too early to tell how serious the injury is, but it continues a bad pattern for Ramirez in 2013. He missed the first 24 games of the season after dislocating his thumb during the World Baseball Classic, then in just his fourth game back he strained his left hamstring and missed the next 28 games. Ramirez has played just three games since getting activated from the disabled list, including a pinch-hit walk in the eighth inning on Thursday. Ramrez was nearly passed by Yasiel Puig running the bases on Puig's grand slam.

Take from these two tweets what you will.

Don Mattingly said Hanley Ramirez was a little stiff in the left hamstring and behind the knee. Not responding to treatment as hoped.

— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) June 7, 2013

Mattingly said he is concerned Ramirez might be disabled again but the trainers are not.

— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) June 7, 2013

The good news for the Dodgers is that Mark Ellis, who was held out of the lineup for four of the previous five games, is back in there playing second base.

Hyun-jin Ryu also returns to the mound after missing one start with a left foot contusion. He is coming off a shutout of the Angels in his last start and has excelled at Dodger Stadium all season. Ryu in five starts at home is 4-1 with a 1.57 ERA, with 33 strikeouts and just seven walks in 34⅓ innings.

Southpaw Paul Maholm starts for the Braves, which means leadoff man and savior Puig gets to face a lefty. Against left-handed pitchers in his young career, Puig is 4-for-6 with a home run and a double.

Against right-handers, Puig has struggled to get by, hitting just .300 (3-for-10) with two home runs.

Game info

Time: 7:10 p.m.

TV: Prime Ticket

MLB Gameday