April 13--The Dodgers put Scott Van Slyke on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday because of lower-back irritation.
Van Slyke joined Andre Ethier and Carl Crawford on the team's list of injured outfielders.
"He's not going to be available for five to six to seven days," Manager Dave Roberts said. "So it just made sense for us."
The injury to Van Slyke, combined with Monday's option of infielder Micah Johnson to triple-A Oklahoma City, opened space on the roster for the return of catcher Yasmani Grandal and infielder Howie Kendrick. Kendrick started at second base Tuesday against Arizona but moved to left field for the ninth inning.
For the most part, left field will be split between Enrique Hernandez and Trayce Thompson. Charlie Culberson, a backup infielder, played some left field over the weekend in San Francisco.
The team has three catchers on the active roster, with rookie Austin Barnes backing up Grandal and A.J. Ellis. Grandal will catch Alex Wood on Wednesday, Roberts said. The Dodgers activated Grandal for Tuesday so he could be used as a pinch-hitter against Diamondbacks relievers such as Tyler Clippard and Brad Ziegler.
Roberts suggested the team would be without Crawford and Van Slyke for the two-week minimum. Crawford was scheduled to undergo an MRI exam on his injured back Monday, but the medical staff "decided against it," Roberts said.
Just visiting
Ethier joined his teammates for Tuesday's home opener festivities. Other injured players in attendance included pitchers Brett Anderson (back surgery), Brandon McCarthy (elbow ligament surgery) and Hyun-Jin Ryu (shoulder surgery). Mike Bolsinger (oblique strain) remained in Arizona at the team's Camelback Ranch training facility.
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