A.J. Ellis lands on disabled list with right knee inflammation

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers on Monday placed a catcher on the 15-day disabled list, but it wasn't Yasmani Grandal, who took a foul ball off the mask on Sunday. Instead, A.J. Ellis was placed on the DL with right knee inflammation. Austin Barnes was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City to take his place on the roster.

Barnes is starting and batting eighth for the Dodgers in Atlanta on Monday.

Manager Don Mattlngly said before the game that Ellis began to experience a problem with his knee on the plane ride last night and then "in the middle of the night it woke him up, it was just stiff and tight."

"Ellis had an MRI today, no real structural damage," Mattingly said, Ellis tried to stay off the [DL], "[Ellis] was able to hit, was able to throw, pretty much was able to except get into the deep crouch."

Mattingly said that "it might be just four or five days but it is a rough position and you really can't go with just one catcher."

Ellis has a six-game hitting streak, covering all,of his July appearances, hitting .400 (8-for-20) with two home runs, a double and two walks during that span.

When Grandal missed six games in May on the seven-day concussion disabled list, Ellis started five of the six games behind the plate with Barnes starting once.

Barnes is 1-for-5 with a walk and a run scored in his six major league games this season, including two starts behind the plate. He made the Pacific Coast League All-Star team this year, hitting .304/.385/.484 with 13 doubles, eight home runs, 28 walks and 26 strikeouts in 62 games for Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Barnes did not play for Oklahoma City on Sunday night, though he remained with the team during their game.

Mattingly said the Dodgers had started to make plans yesterday if they needed to bring up Barnes in case there was an issue with Grandal. Ellis did not report any problems until the flight to Atlanta.