Juan Uribe to rehab with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga

LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers third baseman Juan Uribe has been sidelined nearly a full month with a right hamstring strain, but his return could be imminent. Uribe will play three games on a minor league rehabilitation assignment with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga beginning Thursday.

The Quakes host Inland Empire for a four-game series at LoanMart Field in Rancho Cucamonga beginning Thursday night. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said the plan for Uribe was to be the designated hitter on Thursday, then play third base on Friday and Saturday.

Uribe, who was given Wednesday off to spend with his visiting family, could be activated as early as Sunday when the Dodgers are in San Diego, though a more likely scenario might be a Monday activation when the Dodgers open a three-game series in Kansas City against the Royals.

"He's been working hard getting ready," Mattingly said. "We gave him a day today. Then he'll play three in a row and see how it goes."

Uribe last played for the Dodgers on May 20. Wednesday will mark his 28th straight game missed. The 35-year-old Uribe is hitting .303/.331/.454 with 11 doubles and four home runs this season.

Notes

Justin Turner is out of the starting lineup for a sixth straight game with calf tightness. Mattingly said he hopes after Thursday's off day that Turner will be able to start at third base in San Diego against the Padres. But he's not rushing it.

"I know he's getting better, but I would like him to be healthy where he's not trying to play at 90 percent and do something to it," Mattingly said. "Guys are holding down the fort pretty good."

Mattingly said an MRI of Carl Crawford 's left ankle showed only inflammation, and the outfielder is back at the Dodgers training facility at Camelback Ranch in Arizona. Crawford still hasn't resumed hitting or running yet since his weekend setback and there isn't yet a timetable for his return.

Mattingly said he has no plans to shuffle or alter the starting rotation, instead using Thursday's off day to give all five starting pitchers an extra day of rest. Letting Zack Greinke finish the sixth inning on Tuesday, totaling a season-high 117 pitches in his start, was a decision in part spurred on knowing Greinke would get an extra day of rest before his next outing, Mattingly said.

Dodgers bench coach Tim Wallach will be inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame this weekend and won't be with the team for the three-game series in San Diego. With Wallach away, first base coach Davey Lopes will serve as bench coach, with assistant hitting coach John Valentin coaching first base.