Yasiel Puig fit for splint, still day-to-day with swollen left thumb

LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig is out of the starting lineup again on Tuesday night in the opener of a two-game series against the Tigers at Dodger Stadium, still nursing a swollen left thumb. He is listed as day-to-day.

Puig was fitted for a splint to wear on his left thumb, designed to help him hit and throw, and provide extra cushion while catching the ball. Manager Don Mattingly said it was similar to the splint worn by Hanley Ramirez in 2013.

"Some guys are comfortable with that, and some guys aren't," Mattingly said.

The thumb was injured while sliding into first base in the third inning on Saturday. Puig remained in Saturday's game but missed Sunday night's contest.

Puig practiced throwing and hitting in the batting cage during pregame warmups tonight, but his status for the game won't be known until game time, when Mattingly will get a report from team trainer Stan Conte.

"The last game they basically told me he could pinch run," Mattingly explained. "Before the game I'll hear from Stan, 'You have him for this, you have him for that.' I just haven't heard yet."

In the clubhouse Puig was proclaiming he would be back in the lineup on Wednesday, but Mattingly just laughed when he heard that.

"The training staff still has something to do with that. I still get to write it out now and then," Mattingly quipped. "But I'm glad he feels good enough to be ready to play, that's a good sign for us.