Yasiel Puig sits out finale vs. Cardinals

ST. LOUIS -- The Dodgers will try to salvage the final game of their three-game series against the Cardinals in St. Louis on Sunday night, but will do so without Yasiel Puig. The right fielder is out of the starting lineup one day after getting hit by a pitch in his left hand.

Puig was hit in his left hand by a tailing fastball from Joe Kelly in the third inning of Saturday's 4-2 loss to St. Louis, but he stayed in the game for five more innings in the field, and popped out in his next at-bat. Don Mattingly sent Matt Kemp to the plate to pinch hit for Puig in the eighth inning, but Puig struck out.

Postgame X-rays on Puig's hand on Saturday were negative.

It has been a rough period offensively for the Dodgers, who have scored 12 runs in their last seven games and are averaging just 3.64 runs per game in July.

Puig is hitting .294/.368/.529 this month, and along with Hanley Ramirez (.296/.424/.407) is one of just two Dodgers with even 10 plate appearances in July with an OPS of at least .800.

Andre Ethier, hitting .250/.385/.375 with seven walks in 39 plate appearances in July, starts in right field on Sunday night for the Dodgers, with Scott Van Slyke - hitting .273/.294/.485 with a team-high two home runs in July - is in center field.

Old friend Mark Ellis starts at second base for the Cardinals, his first start of the weekend series as the Cardinals stack their lineup with right-handed batters against Clayton Kershaw.