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LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis is back in the starting lineup after missing two games with a sore knee over the weekend. Ellis is catching an batting eighth in the opener against the Angels on Monday night at Dodger Stadium.
Ellis is hitting .194/.335/.239 with seven doubles and no home runs in 51 games, and is in a 1-for-22 slump dating back to July 21.
Chone the door
Another walk-heavy, power-light player is due back to the Dodgers soon, but it doesn't sound like Chone Figgins will rejoin the team this week after his rehab assignment with Triple-A Albuquerque ends. Per the collective bargaining agreement, a minor league rehab assignment can last up to 20 days, which for Figgins would end on Tuesday.
But manager Don Mattingly made it seem unlikely the team would make any roster changes in the next few days in that regard. If the Dodgers don't activate Figgins by Wednesday, they would need to designate him for assignment, which is sounding increasingly likely.
"We've been playing pretty well, and I like our club the way it's situated right now," Mattingly said.
Figgins is hitting .289/.372/.316 in 11 games on his current rehab assignment and has played shortstop, third base, second base and left field, though he hasn't played for the Isotopes since July 30.
He hit .217/.373/.267 with the Dodgers this season in 76 plate appearances over 38 games.
Halos roster move
The Angels made a roster move before the game, activating outfielder Collin Cowgill from the disabled list. Right-handed pitcher Mike Morin was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a laceration in his left foot. The Angels were carrying 13 pitchers, but are now down to 12 on the active roster.