| Date | News | Comment |
| Jun 24 2018 | Ellis went 3-for-3 with a walk and an RBI in Saturday's 5-3 loss to San Francisco. | Ellis delivered his first three-hit performance of the season, and now owns a healthy .337/.426/.430 over 31 games. The 37-year-old has been solid in a timeshare with Raffy Lopez while Austin Hedges (elbow) has been sidelined, but the latter is expected to be activated from the disabled list prior to Sunday's series finale against the Giants. Ellis' career-best batting average and lengthy major-league experience should allow him to stick on the roster, but his playing time will likely take a significant hit following Hedges' return. |
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| May 27 2018 | Ellis went 2-for-4 with his first home run of the 2018 season in Saturday's win over the Dodgers. | Ellis got the nod behind the dish against the left-handed Alex Wood. The veteran backstop's big day at the plate upped his season line to .315/.406/.444 in 65 plate appearances. Ellis has been on the short side of a platoon with Raffy Lopez, but the latter is scuffling at the plate, so the 37-year-old could start to see more starts until Austin Hedges (concussion) returns from the disabled list. |
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| May 3 2018 | Ellis started and went 0-for-2 with a pair of walks and a run scored in Wednesday's loss to the Giants. | Ellis got the start Wednesday after the recently-recalled Raffy Lopez started Tuesday's contest. It appears that the two backstops will split starting duties while Austin Hedges (elbow) mends on the disabled list. The 37-year-old is slashing .214/.343/.214 in 36 plate appearances this year. |
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| Apr 30 2018 | Ellis started behind the dish and went 2-for-4 in Sunday's 14-2 loss to the Mets. | It was the veteran's first multi-hit performance in 29 plate appearances this season. Austin Hedges is the clear-cut starter in San Diego, limiting Ellis to starts on traditional rest days for catchers. |
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| Apr 2 2018 | Ellis is starting at catcher and hitting hitting eighth Monday night against the Rockies, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports. | Ellis was a late addition to the lineup after Austin Hedges was scratched with back discomfort. This will mark the first start of the season for Ellis, who hit .210/.298/.371 over 51 games for the Marlins in 2017. |
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| Mar 28 2018 | Ellis had his contract purchased by the Padres on Wednesday. | With Austin Hedges locked in as the Padres' primary backstop, Ellis and Raffy Lopez will split duties as the backup. The veteran is better known as a defensive catcher, hitting no better than .238 in any of his previous five seasons, and his limited opportunities will leave him off the fantasy radar. |
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| Mar 26 2018 | Ellis is expected to make the Padres' Opening Day roster as a backup catcher, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports. | Since Ellis is attending spring training as a non-roster invitee, the Padres would need to clear a spot for him on the 40-man roster, but that shouldn't prove difficult with Alex Dickerson (elbow) and Allen Cordoba (severe concussion) both looking like candidates for the 60-day disabled list. With Austin Hedges locked in as the Padres' primary backstop, Ellis likely wouldn't receive more than a couple starts most weeks and would offer nearly all his value on the defensive end after batting no better than .238 in any of his past five seasons in the big leagues. |
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| Feb 14 2018 | Ellis signed a minor-league contract with the Padres on Wednesday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports. | With Austin Hedges locked in as the team's starter behind the dish, Ellis will compete with Rocky Gale and Raffy Lopez for the backup gig. While the 36-year-old is easily the most experienced catcher of the bunch, he's coming off a season during which he hit a lowly .210/.298/.371 in 51 games for the Marlins. |
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| Sep 27 2017 | Ellis went 2-for-4 with a double, a two-run home run, three RBI and two runs during Wednesday's loss to Colorado. | Ellis has played sparingly this season and owns a pedestrian .203/.290/.370 slash line for the campaign. His big outing Wednesday doesn't change his status as a desperation fantasy option in the majority of settings. |
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| Aug 16 2017 | Ellis went 1-for-2 with a walk and a solo home run in Tuesday's loss to the Giants. | It's his third homer in 33 games on the year, as playing time has been very hard to come by for Ellis behind starting catcher J.T. Realmuto. Barring an injury to Realmuto, don't expect that arrangement to change down the stretch. |
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| Jul 30 2017 | Ellis will start at catcher and bat second Sunday against the Reds, Andre Fernandez of the Miami Herald reports. | The Marlins have a vacancy in the two hole with Giancarlo Stanton receiving a rare day off, so Ellis will fill the void for what will likely be a one-time basis. Ellis has shown the ability to draw a walk throughout his career, but he won't be much of a run producer when he's in the lineup. |
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| Jul 24 2017 | Ellis got the start behind the plate Sunday and went 2-for-4 with a double, a solo home run and a second run scored. | Playing time has been hard to come by for the veteran backstop as he works behind J.T. Realmuto, and Ellis has just 87 plate appearances on the season with two homers and five RBI. Even if he did find his way into more action, his .656 OPS would give him very limited fantasy appeal. |
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| Jul 8 2017 | Ellis has only 13 hits and two RBI in 65 at-bats as the Marlins' backup catcher this season. | The veteran backstop has started only 16 games this season with J.T. Realmuto healthy and playing well. Ellis has zero extra-base hits this season and is utilized primarily when Realmuto needs an off day. The 36-year-old is ineffective at the plate and sees too little playing time to warrant fantasy consideration. |
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| Jun 14 2017 | Ellis is batting .213 this with no extra-base hits and two RBI in 55 at-bats this season as the backup catcher in Miami. | Ellis is having trouble getting on the field this season, stuck behind the much younger and more durable starter JT Realmuto. As the backup catcher, Ellis is even having trouble finding a spot as a pinch hitter, only playing that role twice this season. All in all, it appears age has caught up to Ellis, and an increase in playing time doesn't appear to be in the cards anytime soon for the 36-year-old backstop. |
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| May 22 2017 | Ellis has managed only five hits in 37 at-bats so far this season. | The 36-year-old tends to start day games that follow a night game, and with J.T. Realmuto putting together another good season, it's unlikely to see any significant change behind the plate for the Marlins. For the season, Ellis is slashing .135/.220/.135 with one RBI, and he has been utilized as a pinch hitter only twice this year. |
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| Apr 24 2017 | Ellis has two hits in 20 plate appearances to start off 2017. | Still the backup catcher to J.T. Realmuto, Ellis has not necessarily pushed for more playing time. Realmuto's hot start has not helped Ellis' case, and neither have the seven strikeouts he has to his ledger in the early stages of the season. The 36-year-old slashed .216/.301/.298 with the Dodgers and Phillies last season. |
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| Mar 28 2017 | Ellis (hamstring) went 1-for-3 with a run scored during Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals. | Ellis missed extended time with a hamstring strain this spring but seems to have made a full recovery as he played five innings in a minor league game over the weekend and started Tuesday's Grapefruit League contest. He'll open the season as the primary backup catcher to J.T. Realmuto. |
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| Mar 26 2017 | Ellis (hamstring) was behind the plate for five innings in a minor league game over the weekend and should see action in a split-squad game Tuesday, Andre Fernandez of the Miami Herald reports. | While there isn't much time left in camp, Ellis could yet avoid a DL stint to begin the season if everything looks good Tuesday. When healthy, he'll slot in as the backup to J.T. Realmuto in Miami. |
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| Mar 22 2017 | Ellis (hamstring) was able to get some at-bats during a backfield scrimmage Tuesday but didn't run the bases, the Sun-Sentinel reports. | With Opening Day less than two weeks away, Ellis is starting to run out of time to fully recover from his hamstring tweak and be ready for the regular season. A DL stint through the early part of April is beginning to look like a possibility for the backup catcher. |
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| Mar 14 2017 | Manager Don Mattingly said Ellis (hamstring) would be sidelined for "a few more days," Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reports. | Ellis' hamstring injury has lingered for more than two weeks, but it's not anything that Mattingly believes will sideline the backstop for Opening Day. The veteran catcher is expected to serve as the top backup to J.T. Realmuto this season and draw one or two starts per week. |
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| Mar 9 2017 | Ellis (hamstring) will participate in batting practice and some jogging Thursday, Matthew DeFranks of the Sun Sentinel reports. | The injury has cost him a chance to play in the World Baseball Classic but isn't expected to keep him off the Opening Day roster. The 35-year-old should piece together a start or two per week, even while backing up J.T. Realmuto, especially if Miami slides the latter over to play first base a bit in 2017. That may provide enough reps to consider Ellis as a No. 2 NL-only catcher, though he doesn't carry an exciting ceiling. |
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| Mar 8 2017 | Ellis (hamstring) was able to hit and throw Monday, and the Marlins are hoping he'll be able to see game action soon, Glenn Sattell of MLB.com reports. "We're thinking that after this off-day [Wednesday] that we'll be pretty close to him being back to looking like a regular guy again," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said Tuesday. "So kind of starting to building up towards a game somewhere without any setbacks." | The injury cost Ellis a chance to represent his country at the WBC, but at this point it doesn't look like it will keep him out for Opening Day. The 35-year-old will caddy for J.T. Realmuto at catcher this season, but with Realmuto potentially seeing some time at first base as well, Ellis could get a few more at-bats than your typical backup catcher. |
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| Mar 4 2017 | Ellis (hamstring) is still about 10 days away from playing and will not represent Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports. | Ellis has been dealing with the ailment since feeling tightness in warmups earlier this week, but there seems to be a loose timetable in place for his return. His withdrawal from the WBC should give him the opportunity to return to full strength this spring as he prepares for his first season with the Marlins. Ellis is expected to serve as the backup to J.T. Realmuto this coming year, so his fantasy value is rather miniscule. |
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| Mar 1 2017 | Manager Don Mattingly says Ellis (hamstring) will rest for two days before resuming any baseball activities. | Ellis was scratched form Tuesday's Grapefruit League game after feeling tightness while warming up. Mattingly added there's no definitive timetable for when the veteran catcher could return to games, but his status for the World Baseball Classic is in jeopardy. Cam Maron, a backup catcher who took Ellis' DH spot Tuesday, will likely continue receiving opportunities. |
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| Feb 28 2017 | Ellis was scratched from Tuesday's lineup after feeling hamstring tightness while running during warmups, the Miami Herald's Clark Spencer reports. | He was slated to DH in Tuesday's exhibition game against the Mets, but will be replaced by Tomas Telis. The Marlins say Ellis was scratched as a precaution, so he should be considered day-to-day. |
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| Dec 7 2016 | Ellis agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Marlins on Wednesday, ESPN's Buster Olney reports. | Known for being great with pitchers, Ellis is the epitome of a player who is better in reality than fantasy. Last year Ellis hit .216, and he has a career .239/.340/.351 slash line with 37 home runs in 555 games. He will serve as J.T. Realmuto's backup, and should catch once or twice each week. |
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| Nov 4 2016 | Ellis became a free agent Thursday, Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. | Ellis came over to the Phillies in late-August in the trade that sent Carlos Ruiz to the Dodgers. He hit just .216/.301/.290 with two homers in 171 at-bats this past season. The Phillies are expected to have some interest in bringing Ellis back to serve as their backup catcher next season. |
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| Sep 3 2016 | Ellis went 2-for-4 with a double and three-run homer in Friday's 8-4 loss to the Braves. | The backstop's 346-foot shot off Joel De La Cruz in the second plated Darin Ruf and Freddy Galvis, giving the Phillies what looked like a solid 4-0 early lead. It was only the veteran's second homer of the season, but he has now contributed a pair of doubles, Friday's homer and five RBI in just three games in a Philadelphia uniform. |
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| Aug 29 2016 | Ellis went 1-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI Sunday in his first game with the Phillies. | Ellis' two-run double broke a 1-1 tie in the seventh inning in a game the Phillies would go on to win. With roster expansion around the corner, Ellis might not see more than a start a week if the Phillies bring up Jorge Alfaro and Andrew Knapp from the minors next month. |
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| Aug 27 2016 | Ellis is expected to make his Phillies debut Sunday against the Mets, Meghan Montemurro of The News Journal reports. | Acquired from the Dodgers on Thursday in exchange for Carlos Ruiz, Ellis is scheduled to catch Sunday's starter, Vince Velasquez, in what will be his first action in a Phillies uniform. The veteran has struggled mightily this season, posting a .194/.285/.252 slash line while with the Dodgers. |
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| Aug 25 2016 | Ellis was traded to the Phillies on Thursday. | The Phillies and Dodgers swapped backup catchers, as Carlos Ruiz will head to Los Angeles on the other end of the deal. Ellis has struggled mightily at the plate this season, holding a slash line of just .194/.285/.252, with his last hit coming over two weeks ago. He figures to continue serving in a backup capacity, giving Cameron Rupp the occasional day off behind the plate. |
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| Jun 29 2016 | Ellis is in the lineup and batting eighth for Wednesday's game against the Brewers. | Ellis will get his third start in six games, but doesn't have a great matchup as he is hitting just .186 against right-handed pitching on the season, and opposing pitcher Junior Guerra has been throwing the ball well for Milwaukee, going 4-1 with a 3.67 ERA. |
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| Jun 26 2016 | Ellis is out of the lineup Sunday against the Pirates, J.P. Hoornstra of the Southern California News Group reports. | Ellis typically catches Sunday's starter, Clayton Kershaw, but the Dodgers will instead start Yasmani Grandal behind the plate Sunday evening. Ellis did get the start Saturday night in Pittsburgh and went 2-for-3 at the dish, but no word of an injury has surfaced since then. Whether or not Ellis starts the next time Kershaw takes the hill is a situation worth monitoring. |
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| Jun 1 2016 | Ellis is in the lineup and batting seventh Wednesday against Chicago. | Ellis will make his 22nd start behind the dish this season in place of the slumping Yasmani Grandal. The 35-year-old hasn't been much better, though, as he's 7-for-37 (.189) in his last 12 games. He's only played one game in the Dodger's last seven so he will likely be out there to prove something in Game-3 of the series. |
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| May 20 2016 | Ellis is in the lineup for Friday's series opener against the Padres. | Ellis will catch while Yasmani Grandal fills in for Adrian Gonzalez (back) at first base. He has a hit in each of his last three starts. |
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| Apr 26 2016 | Ellis is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Marlins. | He typically catches for friend Clayton Kershaw, but Yasmani Grandal will get that honor Tuesday despite going 0-for-8 in his last two starts. Ellis, meanwhile, is 4-for-his-last-8 with a homer, but he's just 8-for-34 (.235 average) on the season. |
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| Apr 14 2016 | Ellis is back in the lineup Thursday, batting seventh and catching pitcher Ross Stripling. | Manager Dave Roberts is giving Yasmani Grandal a night off Thursday, so Ellis will draw back in behind the plate. With Clayton Kershaw pitching Friday, Ellis figures to serve as the Dodgers' backstop for the next two games. Despite the promise of added playing time the next two days, Ellis does not provide much as a hitter as he's gone 3-for-17 to start the year. |
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| Apr 10 2016 | Ellis is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants. | With Yasmani Grandal (forearm) still out, Ellis and Austin Barnes have been sharing catching duties. Barnes will start at catcher Sunday and hit eighth against Johnny Cueto. |
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| Apr 7 2016 | Ellis is out of Thursday's lineup against the Giants. | The Dodgers continue to share the catching duties with Yasmani Grandal (forearm) on the shelf. Austin Barnes will start at catcher Thursday and hit eighth against righty Jake Peavy. |
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| Apr 6 2016 | Ellis is back in the lineup Wednesday against the Padres, batting eighth. | With Yasmani Grandal still nursing a forearm injury, Ellis and Austin Barnes have been splitting time at catcher to start the 2016 season. Ellis sat out Tuesday's game so he should be 100 percent to catch for Kenta Maeda. He will be facing Padres right hander Andrew Cashner, against whom he is 7-for-14 in his career. |
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| Apr 5 2016 | Ellis is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Padres. | The 34-year-old was behind the plate to catch for his friend, Clayton Kershaw, on Opening Day, and he drove in three runs in the 15-0 route of San Diego. Ellis will sit in favor of Austin Barnes on Tuesday, and the two figure to share the workload until Yasmani Grandal (forearm) is back from the DL. The team could keep three catchers once Grandal's healthy. |
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| Dec 2 2015 | Ellis signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract with the Dodgers on Wednesday, avoiding arbitration, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports. | While Ellis may not be relevant in standard mixed leagues, he certainly has value in real life, thanks to his defense behind the plate and good eye at the dish. Chances are, Ellis will serve as the secondary option again in 2016, catching Clayton Kershaw but otherwise spelling Yasmani Grandal (shoulder) only every couple days. |
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| Oct 10 2015 | Ellis is not in the lineup for Game 2 of the Dodgers' NLDS matchup with the Mets. | Ellis caught Clayton Kershaw on Friday night as he usually does, but he will take a seat in favor of Yasmani Grandal in the Dodgers' second playoff game. |
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| Sep 17 2015 | Ellis went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and a walk in a 2-0 win over Colorado on Wednesday. | Ellis has been filling in for the oft-injured Yasmani Grandal and has now homered in two of his last three games. The backup catcher provides very little value, even for NL-only owners, and he'll remain on waiver wires like he should. |
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| Sep 2 2015 | Ellis made his third start in four games Tuesday against the Giants and went 2-for-4 to raise his like to .238/.364/.381. | Ellis is hitting .375 in his last 24 at-bats, and with Yasmani Grandal in a 1-for-31 skid, Ellis could continue to play more than the average backup catcher this month. |
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| Aug 4 2015 | Ellis (knee) has been reinstated from the 15-day DL. | Ellis completed the final phase of his rehab over the weekend, and he'll return after missing the minimum 15 days with inflammation in his right knee. The veteran will presumably slot back in as the team's No. 2 catcher behind Yasmani Grandal. In a corresponding move, the Dodgers optioned Austin Barnes back to Triple-A. |
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| Aug 2 2015 | Ellis (knee) resumed running the bases Sunday, Eric Stephen of True Blue LA reports. | Ellis will be eligible to return from the DL on Tuesday, but it's not certain if his knee will have healed enough by that time in order for him to slot back in as the Dodgers' No. 2 catcher. Prospect Austin Barnes has been a capable backup to Yasmani Grandal during the last couple of weeks, so the Dodgers aren't in a rush to bring Ellis back if he's at less than 100 percent. |
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| Jul 20 2015 | Ellis (knee) has been placed on the DL, reports Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles. | Ellis has only played six games in the month of July, and while he's been productive in those outings (eight hits), he hasn't been a driving force in the Dodgers' offense. There's no timetable for his return yet. The Dodgers called up Austin Barnes from Triple-A Oklahoma City to replace Ellis. |
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| Jul 13 2015 | Ellis homered on Sunday, marking the second time in as many starts that he's gone deep. | Yep, A.J. Ellis, power hitter. All jokes aside, Ellis is 10 for his last 25 as manager Don Mattingly continues to mix him in about twice a week in order to keep All-Star catcher Yasmani Grandal fresh. Ellis could be worth a spot as a #2 catcher in NL-only formats. |
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| May 24 2015 | Ellis is out of the lineup Sunday against the Padres. | Ellis started Saturday's game after Yasmani Grandal was placed on the 7-day concussion DL, but will take a seat on Sunday afternoon. Austin Barnes, who will be making his major league debut, will man the backstop in his stead. |
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| Apr 23 2015 | Ellis' x-rays were negative after he left Wednesday's game with a hand injury, Eric Stephen of True Blue LA reports. | Consider him day-to-day. The x-rays will be further evaluated this week, but for now it appears any sort of major injury was avoided. He's likely day-to-day pending further examination. |
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| Apr 23 2015 | Ellis (hand) is available off the bench Thursday, the Los Angeles Times' Dylan Hernandez reports. | He left Wednesday's game with a minor hand injury, but was able to throw before Thursday's game and should be back behind the dish for the Dodgers sometime in the near future. Yasmani Grandal will get the start Thursday. |
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| Mar 23 2015 | Ellis is 5-for-26 (.192) with a home run this spring and still appears to be in line to function as the team's #2 catcher behind Yasmani Grandal. | At this point, one guess as to a playing time split would be 70/30 in favor of Grandal, but Grandal is hitting just .211 himself. |
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| Jan 13 2015 | Ellis agreed to a one-year, $4.25 million contract with the Dodgers on Tuesday, CBS Sports reports. | Ellis will avoid arbitration and return to the Dodgers in 2015, when he's expected to serve as the primary backup to Yasmani Grandal. Ellis has averaged 114 games with the Dodgers over the last three seasons but experienced his fair share of struggles last season, as he hit just .191 with 25 RBI in 93 contests. |
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| Sep 26 2014 | Ellis is out of the lineup Friday against the Rockies. | Ellis will take a seat after starting four straight games behind the plate for the Dodgers. Drew Butera will start in his place and bat eighth for the Dodgers on Friday. |
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| Sep 20 2014 | Ellis is out of the lineup Saturday against the Cubs. | After hitting just one homer in his first 86 games of the season, Ellis improbably launched two in Friday's 14-5 thrashing of Chicago. He'll get what looks like a rest Saturday, with the Dodgers playing another early afternoon game, as Drew Butera steps in to catch starter Roberto Hernandez. |
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| Sep 19 2014 | Ellis went 2-for-4 with a pair of two-run homers in Friday afternoon's 14-5 drubbing of the Cubs. | Carrying a meager .235 slugging percentage into the contest, Ellis erupted for not one but two roundtrippers versus the Cubs. It is not too often that a player triples his homer total for the season in just one game, but that is exactly what the veteran backstop accomplished Friday afternoon. |
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| Sep 17 2014 | Ellis is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Rockies. | Ellis will take a seat for Wednesday's day game following five straight games behind the plate. Tim Federowicz will catch Carlos Frias in his place and will bat seventh for the Dodgers. |
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| Sep 7 2014 | Ellis is out of the lineup Sunday against the Diamondbacks. | Ellis has caught back-to-back games for the Dodgers, but will sit in favor of Drew Butera for the Sunday afternoon tilt. |
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| Sep 3 2014 | Ellis is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Nationals. | Ellis will take the customary catcher's day off for the day game Wednesday. Tim Federowicz will relieve him of his duties behind the plate and bat eighth for the Dodgers. |
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| Aug 30 2014 | Ellis is out of the lineup Saturday against the Padres. | Drew Butera will step in to catch starter Zack Greinke, pushing Ellis to the bench after four straight starts. Ellis is batting just .185/.299/.262 this month, but he's 5-for-11 in his last three games and should continue to serve as the primary option behind the plate for Los Angeles. |
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| Aug 23 2014 | Ellis is out of the lineup Saturday, the L.A. Times' Bill Shaikin reports. | This is just a standard day off for the Dodgers' starting backstop, as he had caught the previous four games. Drew Butera will handle the catching duties. |
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| Aug 17 2014 | Ellis is out of the lineup Sunday against the Brewers. | Ellis will receive a regular day of rest, with Drew Butera taking over behind the plate for the Dodgers. |
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| Aug 14 2014 | Ellis is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Braves. | Ellis tallied multiple hits Wednesday for the first time since Jul. 4, but he will be held out Thursday with the Dodgers playing a day game following a night game. Drew Butera will get the nod behind the plate in Ellis' place. |
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| Aug 8 2014 | Ellis is out of the Dodgers' lineup Friday against the Brewers. | Ellis missed two games last week due to a sore knee, but this looks like nothing more than a routine day off after four straight starts. Drew Butera will catch and bat eighth against right-hander Kyle Lohse. |
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| Aug 4 2014 | Ellis (knee) will return to the lineup Monday against the Angels. | He has missed the last two games with a minor knee injury, but will be back behind the dish to catch Zack Greinke on Monday. It's been a rough 2014 so far for the Dodgers' backstop, as he's batting just .194 and slugging .239 in 51 games. However, his .335 OBP still offers some real-life value, even if he's been fairly useless in standard fantasy leagues to this point. |
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| Aug 3 2014 | Ellis (knee) remains out of the lineup Sunday vs. the Cubs, but expected to play Monday, MLB.com's Ken Gurnick reports. | Ellis will yield another start at catcher to Drew Butera, but the bruised knee won't cost him much time, if any, beyond Sunday. Still, even a healthy Ellis has been a weak fantasy commodity at the catcher spot this season, with no homers and a .194 average in 51 games. |
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| Aug 2 2014 | Ellis isn't in the lineup Saturday against the Cubs due to a sore knee, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports. | Ellis second-half line (.132/.214/.184 in 38 at-bats) is lacking, to say the least, but the Dodgers' everyday backstop is currently enduring an ailment of unknown severity. Consider him day-to-day for now, as Drew Butera steps in behind the plate. |
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| Jul 23 2014 | Ellis is out of the lineup again Wednesday, AM 570's David Vassegh reports. | Drew Butera will start behind the dish, as Ellis will get a rare day off. He plays a lot, but his .216 batting average and zero home runs make him a last-ditch option at the position. |
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| Jul 18 2014 | Ellis went 1-for-4 with a run scored and one RBI on Friday facing the Cardinals. | The Dodgers couldn't supply much offense on the night, with Ellis getting credit for the only RBI on the Dodger Blue side. Ellis did break a mini 0-for-13 slump by doubling in Juan Uribe in the seventh inning, and then later in the inning scoring on a Seth Maness wild pitch. The double was nice to see considering Ellis has a .264 SLG percentage on the season. |
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| Jul 11 2014 | Ellis is not in the starting lineup Friday against the Padres. | With Ellis on the bench, the Dodgers will have Drew Butera behind the plate Friday night. |
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| Jul 6 2014 | Ellis is out of the lineup Sunday against the Rockies, David Vassegh of 570 AM Los Angeles reports. | Ellis has started four straight games for the Dodgers, but will get a routine day of rest Sunday afternoon. Drew Butera will man the backstop in his stead. |
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| Jul 1 2014 | Ellis is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Indians. | Drew Butera will step in to catch Josh Beckett, as Ellis sits after four straight starts. Ellis has hit .279/.426/.302 in 14 games since returning from an ankle injury, and will continue to serve as the primary option behind the plate for Los Angeles. |
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| Jun 26 2014 | Ellis is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cardinals. | Ellis started each of the last four games, and will thus give way to Drew Butera on Thursday. Since returning from the disabled list June 13, Ellis has a peculiar .267/.436/.267 slash line over 30 at-bats. |
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| Jun 25 2014 | Ellis is batting .296/.457/.296 in nine games since returning from the disabled list earlier this month. | The first two numbers are nice, but Ellis has just two extra-base hits all year (both doubles) in 74 at-bats. Catcher will likely be a position that the Dodgers look to upgrade at the trade deadline. |
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| Jun 21 2014 | Ellis is not in the lineup for Saturday's game in San Diego, Eric Stephen of SB Nation reports. | Ellis will sit in favor of Drew Butera, after starting each of the previous four games. Ellis is 5-for-17 (.294 BA) since coming off the disabled list June 13, but all the hits have been singles. |
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| Jun 15 2014 | Ellis is out of the lineup Sunday against the Diamondbacks. | Ellis is 2-for-4 at the plate with three walks since his Friday activation, but will get the day off for a day game following Saturday night's contest. Drew Butera will man the backstop in his stead, catching Sunday's starter Josh Beckett. |
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| Jun 13 2014 | Ellis (ankle) was activated from the 15-day DL prior to Friday's game. | Tim Federowicz was optioned to Triple-A, while the Dodgers will likely return Ellis to their starting lineup and allow him to serve as the team's primary catcher moving forward. |
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| Jun 12 2014 | Ellis (ankle) is expected to be activated from the disabled list Friday, Bill Shaikin of the LA Times reports. | It appears that Ellis will be able to dodge a rehab assignment before returning to the Dodgers. Expect him to resume his role as the club's regular catcher upon his activation. |
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| Jun 10 2014 | Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Tuesday that Ellis (ankle) will be activated any day now, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports. | Ellis' return is imminent, but a specific return date has not been set, as the skipper will leave it up to trainer Stan Conte to decide which day he'll be activated. The 33-year-old Ellis suffered what was labeled a severe ankle sprain while celebrating Josh Beckett's no-hitter last month, but it sounds like he'll end up missing just over the minimum amount of time required by his DL stint. |
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| Jun 9 2014 | Ellis (ankle) anticipates being activated this week without going on a minor league rehab assignment, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports. | After being activated from the DL on May 14, Ellis appeared in just eight games before suffering a severely sprained ankle while celebrating Josh Beckett's no-hitter. He appears confident he'll be ready to go this week, and could re-join the Dodgers by the time their three-game series at home against the Diamondbacks begins. Although Ellis has hit just .170 in 47 at-bats this season, Dodgers pitchers could stand to benefit the most from having the veteran back behind the plate. |
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| Jun 7 2014 | Ellis (ankle) participated in agility drills Saturday morning, Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register reports. | Two weeks ago, Ellis suffered what was deemed a severely sprained ankle while celebrating Josh Beckett's no-hitter. He seems to be making progress, but Ellis will likely need to complete a rehab assignment before being activated and there is no set timetable for his return. |
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| May 26 2014 | Ellis was placed on the disabled list Monday due to a sprained right ankle, Eric Stephen of True Blue LA reports. | Ellis was given what was deemed a routine day off Sunday, but ended up with a severe ankle sprain while coming out of the dugout to celebrate Josh Beckett's no-hitter. Ellis said the injury occurred when he tripped over backup Drew Butera's discarded catching gear when the team rushed to surround Beckett. Incidentally enough, it's Butera who figures to be the Dodgers' primary backstop while Ellis is out. |
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| May 25 2014 | Ellis is not in the lineup Sunday against the Phillies, Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times reports. | After starting each of the last three games behind the plate, Ellis will cede Sunday's duties to backup Drew Butera. Ellis has been a drain in the batting average category thus far with a woeful .170 mark over 47 at-bats on the campaign, but he's still managed to get on base at a healthy .350 clip, thanks to a 12:10 BB:K ratio. |
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| May 18 2014 | Ellis is not in the lineup Sunday against the Diamondbacks. | Ellis has started three straight for the Dodgers since his Wednesday activation, so a day of rest was likely in order for a day game following Saturday night's contest. Ellis is 2-for-10 since his return to the lineup, and should start the majority of games behind the plate for the Dodgers moving forward. |
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| May 14 2014 | Ellis (knee) has been activated from the DL and will start at catcher, batting eighth Wednesday against the Marlins. | Ellis went on a two-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Albuquerque and went 2-for-5 with a home run. The Dodgers haven't been the unstoppable force that many expected before the season, and a big part of that is the catcher play from Drew Butera and Miguel Olivo. Look for Ellis to assume the bulk of the playing time behind the dish going forward. |
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| May 13 2014 | Ellis (knee) will not be activated Tuesday, Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times reports. | After a brief, two-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Albuquerque, Ellis returned to the team Tuesday for further evaluation. The Dodgers have decided to hold off on activating him right away, but whenever the move is made, Miguel Olivo will likely get the bump. |
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| May 12 2014 | Ellis (knee) will play in another rehab game Monday for Triple-A Albuquerque and will rejoin the Dodgers on Tuesday, MLB.com's Ken Gurnick reports. | He will be examined upon rejoining the team Tuesday, but he should be back in the lineup some time this week. Miguel Olivo will likely be the odd man out upon Ellis' completion of his rehab assignment. |
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| May 10 2014 | Ellis (knee) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports. | The plan is for Ellis to play in minor league rehab games Sunday and Monday, and while nothing's official, an activation at some point next week seems entirely possible. Ellis has been out for over a month following a cleanup procedure on his knee, but he has already logged some at-bats in extended spring training. |
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| May 8 2014 | Ellis (knee) has been sent to extended spring camp to get at-bats, the Dodgers' official site reports. | There is still no definitive timetable for Ellis' return, but it should be sometime in the second half of this month. |
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| May 5 2014 | Ellis (knee) ran the bases for the third consecutive day Monday and reports feeling ready for a rehab assignment, Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register reports. | We originally targeted June 1 for Ellis' return, but it's sounding like he could make it back sometime this month. He'll be the team's primary catcher upon his return. |
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| May 3 2014 | Ellis (knee) is unable to run without pain according to MLB.com's Ken Gurnick. | Ellis is saying there is currently no timetable for his return. While Ellis is out, Miguel Olivo and Drew Butera will split time at catcher for the Dodgers. |
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| Apr 28 2014 | Ellis (knee) resumed light running this past weekend, but is still not at 100 percent, the Los Angeles Times reports. "There's still a little bit of irritation there running only," Ellis stated. | Ellis has resumed full baseball activities, including hitting, throwing and catching, but running at full speed will be the final hurdle to clear before beginning a rehab assignment. Ellis remains ahead of schedule however, as he was originally given a 4-to-6 week timetable after his April 8 knee procedure. He'll continue to receive treatment, with eyes on an approximate mid-May return date. |
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| Apr 20 2014 | Ellis (knee) hopes to begin running next week in what will be the last necessary step before he begins a rehab assignment, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports. | Ellis has been able to do everything except run the bases, including catching three innings of Clayton Kershaw's simulated game Sunday. If he sticks to this timetable, Ellis is on track to shatter his original 4-to-6 week timetable after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus April 8. |
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| Apr 8 2014 | Ellis had a 20-minute procedure performed Tuesday to clean up the medial meniscus in his left knee. | After the successful surgery, Ellis will embark upon a 4-to-6 week recovery, which may be extended considering the case-by-case nature of the specific ailment. Nevertheless, consider him sidelined through at least early May, with Drew Butera handling the bulk of the catching duties in the meantime, barring a transaction. |
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| Apr 8 2014 | Ellis (knee) was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday. | With Ellis out approximately 4-to-6 weeks after undergoing a cleanup procedure on his left knee Tuesday, Drew Butera's set to take over primary catching duties for the Dodgers. Tim Federowicz was recalled to serve as Butera's backup. |
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| Apr 7 2014 | Ellis has a not in the lineup and will undergo surgery Tuesday. | Ellis will presumably be out for at least the next few weeks, and he obviously doesn't play the best position to make a quick return from knee surgery. That the meniscus tear required a surgical procedure indicates it's not just a minor rupture, which in turn raises the possibility that Ellis could miss multiple months of action. Drew Butera is Ellis' top backup, while Tim Federowicz is the No. 3 catcher in the organization. Both represent an offensive downgrade from Ellis, who himself isn't much of an accumulator but at least posts respectable rate numbers. The Dodgers did not initially announce a timetable, but we should have a better idea as to the expected length of Ellis' absence within the next few days. |
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| Apr 7 2014 | Ellis, who will undergo surgery to repair a torn meniscus, could return in four-to-six weeks, Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times reports. | It's perhaps an optimistic estimate, but recovery from a torn meniscus can vary significantly, depending on the extent of the tear. Ellis can safely be ruled out for the rest of April, but it sounds like he should be back well before the All-Star break. Drew Butera is next up on the depth chart, and Tim Federowicz will likely be recalled from the minors Tuesday. Neither offers much with the bat, and that's putting it lightly. |
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| Apr 6 2014 | Ellis is not in the lineup Sunday against the Giants. | Ellis will receive the night off after starting the first two games of the series for the Dodgers. Drew Butera gets the starting nod at catcher. |
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| Feb 28 2014 | Ellis (illness) returned to the lineup in Friday's Cactus League game against the White Sox. | Ellis was sent home Thursday with a case of the flu, but it appears to be a relatively minor issue for the catcher. He went 0-for-2 on Friday and should continue to turn the corner in the next few days. |
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| Feb 27 2014 | Ellis was sent home Thursday with the flu, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports. | The Dodgers didn't want Ellis infecting any of his teammates, so they sent him home to rest up. More than likely, the 32-year-old catcher will be back before the end of the week. |
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| Feb 1 2014 | Ellis signed a one-year, $3.45 million contract with the Dodgers on Saturday, avoiding arbitration, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports. | Ellis' name is often a forgotten one among the star-studded Dodgers lineup, but he's still been a dependable option at the catcher spot in NL-only and deeper mixed leagues the past two seasons, even with a dramatic dropoff in his batting average in 2013. Despite the decline in that department, Ellis was able to maintain a 10 percent walk rate, while supplying 10 homers and 52 RBI for the division champs. He'll serve as the full-time catcher again in 2014. |
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| Sep 26 2013 | Ellis is out of the lineup Thursday in San Francisco, AM 570's David Vassegh reports. | Ellis has received extra rest lately, sitting four times in the last eight games. He should be fresh for the playoffs, and figures to do the vast majority of the Dodgers' catching in October. |
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| Sep 20 2013 | Ellis is not in the lineup Friday against the Padres, the Los Angeles Times reports. | Manager Don Mattingly is giving nearly all of his regulars the day off after the Dodgers clinched the NL West title Thursday. The Dodgers still have a little more work to do to avoid the one-game playoff, so Ellis should continue to see the majority of the starts at catcher over the season's final week. |
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| Sep 18 2013 | Ellis is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Diamondbacks. | This is nothing out of the ordinary, as Ellis typically sits every few days. Tim Federowicz will step in behind the plate to catch right-hander Stephen Fife. |
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| Sep 14 2013 | Ellis is not in the lineup Saturday against the Giants. | Ellis will get what looks like a routine day off after catching four straight games. Tim Federowicz will step in behind the dish. |
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| Sep 6 2013 | Ellis is out of the lineup for Friday's game in Cincinnati. | It's a bit surprising that Ellis will sit following a day off. In any case, no injury has been reported, and Tim Federowicz is starting behind the plate. Ellis is just 5-for-33 over his last 10 games, with a home run, a double, six runs and three RBI. |
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| Aug 31 2013 | Ellis is not in the lineup Saturday against the Padres. | Ellis will be rewarded with a day off Saturday after hitting a solo homer in Friday's series opener. Tim Federowicz will relieve him of duties behind the plate. |
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| Aug 28 2013 | Ellis is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs. | Ellis started each of the previous four games, so it's no surprise that he'll give way to Tim Federowicz for Wednesday's afternoon contest. |
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| Aug 23 2013 | Ellis is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Red Sox. | Pretty standard stuff here, as Ellis typically sits every three or four days. Tim Federowcz will fill in behind the plate. |
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| Aug 18 2013 | Ellis is not in the lineup Sunday against the Phillies. | Ellis started the first two games of the series with the Phillies, so he'll just be getting the day off for Sunday's afternoon affair. Tim Federowicz gets the nod behind the plate. |
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| Aug 3 2013 | Ellis is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cubs, according to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times. | Ellis played just one game since his last day off, but he will sit out again Saturday in favor of Tim Federowicz. The two have shared the catching duties since mid-June, but with each getting three starts over the last six games, pay attention to the playing time in near future to see if Federowicz further eats into Ellis' playing time. |
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| Jul 28 2013 | Ellis is not in the starting lineup Sunday against the Reds. | Ellis will get a breather Sunday following four straight starts while Tim Federowicz fills in behind the plate. |
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| Jul 23 2013 | Ellis is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against Toronto, the LA Times' Dylan Hernandez reports. | Ellis started three of the first four games coming out of the All-Star break, plus he had an eventful night Monday, going 4-for-6 with a home run and five RBI. He'll get some much-deserved rest Tuesday, before likely returning to the lineup for Wednesday's game. |
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| Jul 22 2013 | Ellis had a great game Monday against the Blue Jays as he went 4-for-6 with one home run, five RBI and three runs scored. | Ellis has had an inconsistent July as he started out with nine RBI in the first seven games of the month, but hadn't recorded an RBI in his last five games entering Monday. He does have five home runs and 32 RBI in 67 total games this season, but will need to hit with more consistency to increase his fantasy value. |
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| Jul 20 2013 | Ellis is not in the starting lineup Saturday against the Nationals. | An 0-for-4 performance Friday makes Ellis just 1-for-his-last-15. He'll take a seat Saturday while Tim Federowicz catches right-hander Zack Greinke. |
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| Jul 11 2013 | Ellis is not in Thursday's staring lineup against the Rockies. | Ellis caught all of Wednesday's 14-inning affair, so as one would expect, he'll give way to Tim Federowicz on Thursday. |
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| Jul 7 2013 | Ellis was 1-for-4 with a go-ahead bases-clearing double in the ninth inning of Sunday's game against the Giants. | Ellis is 9-for-20 in his last five starts and appears to be revitalized after a DL stint. |
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| Jul 7 2013 | Ellis was 1-for-4 with a go-ahead bases-clearing go-ahead double in the ninth inning of Sunday's game against the Giants. | Ellis is 9-for-20 in his last five starts and appears to be revitalized after a DL stint. |
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| Jul 6 2013 | Ellis is not in the lineup Saturday against the Giants. | Ellis has eight hits in his last 16 at-bats and six RBI in his last seven games, but he'll catch some rest Saturday while Tim Federowicz suits up behind the plate. |
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| Jul 4 2013 | Ellis is not in the lineup Thursday against the Rockies. | Though Ellis has been ridiculously hot over his last four games by batting 7-for-16 with four runs scored, he'll still need a day off after starting four straight games at catcher. Tim Federowicz gets into the lineup Thursday. |
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| Jun 21 2013 | Ellis was 2-for-4 with a long home run off Huston Street in the Dodgers' 6-3 loss to the Padres on Thursday. | Ellis had been just 2-for-11 since returning from the DL, but perhaps he's getting his timing back now. |
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| Jun 19 2013 | Ellis is not in the lineup for the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader with the Yankees, the Orange County Register reports. | Unsurprisingly, Ellis will bow out of the lineup Wednesday after starting the early game of the doubleheader. Tim Fedorowicz gets the starting nod behind the plate for Game 2. |
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| Jun 16 2013 | Ellis is not in the lineup Sunday against the Pirates, Los Angeles Times reports. | Ellis will get a breather after starting the last two games upon returning from the DL with an oblique injury. Tim Federowicz will catch for starter Zack Greinke on Sunday. |
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| Jun 14 2013 | Ellis (oblique) was activated from the disabled list and is back in the lineup Friday against the Pirates, Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times reports. | As expected, the Dodgers activated Ellis following a two-game rehab stint at High-A Rancho Cucamonga. Ellis will immediately step back into the lineup to face left-hander Jeff Locke, with Ramon Hernandez designated for assignment. |
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| Jun 14 2013 | The Dodgers are expected to activate Ellis (oblique) from the DL on Friday, Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register reports. | Despite going 0-for-7 at the plate in two rehab games, the team has apparently seen enough to activate Ellis. He'll likely be back behind the plate Friday to catch right-hander Stephen Fife. |
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| Jun 13 2013 | Ellis went 0-for-3 in his second rehab game at High-A Rancho Cucamonga on Thursday, the Los Angeles Daily News reports. | The Dodgers aren't putting much stock in Ellis' 0-for-7 performance at the plate over two games and are simply satisfied that he's recovered as anticipated from the oblique injury. Ellis is expected to continue to serve as a DH throughout the rehab assignment before he's activated by the Dodgers, which will likely happen Friday. |
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| Jun 12 2013 | Ellis (oblique) was 0-for-4 in his first rehab game for High-A Rancho Cucamonga on Tuesday, the Dodgers' official site reports. | Assuming all goes well the rest of the week, Ellis should return to the lineup on Friday. |
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| Jun 10 2013 | Ellis (oblique) could be activated from the disabled list Friday, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports. | It sounds like Ellis could be back in time for Friday's opener in Pittsburgh, if all goes well for the 32-year-old during rehab games Tuesday and Wednesday. Friday will be the first day Ellis is eligible to come off the DL. |
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| Jun 2 2013 | Ellis (oblique) was placed on the 15-day DL on Sunday, MLB.com's Ken Gurnick reports. | With his oblique injury continuing to plague him over the last three days, Ellis will get some extended time off to recover. Tim Federowicz and Ramon Hernandez figure to split duties behind the plate while Ellis is sidelined. |
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| Jun 1 2013 | Ellis (oblique) remains out of the starting lineup Saturday, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports. | While Ellis sits again, Tim Federowicz will handle the catching in Saturday's game. |
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| May 31 2013 | Ellis (oblique) is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Rockies, according to MLB.com's Ken Gurnick. | Ellis, dealing with a sore oblique, will sit out for the second straight game. It's not clear how much time he will miss with the injury, but given the touchy nature of oblique injuries, don't expect him to be rushed back. Ramon Hernandez, who will be the starting catcher Friday, figures to see the majority of any further action Ellis misses. |
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| May 30 2013 | Ellis is dealing with an injury to the left side of his body and may end up needing a stint on the disabled list, the LA Times' Dylan Hernandez reports. | Eventually the Dodgers will catch a break, but all Thursday brought was more bad news. Ellis' absence from the lineup wasn't explained earlier, but now the decision to recall (and start) fellow catcher Tim Federowicz makes perfect sense. Federowicz and Ramon Hernandez figure to share the catching duties -- with Hernandez likely handling the larger portion -- if Ellis remains out of the lineup beyond Thursday. |
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| May 30 2013 | Ellis is not in Thursday's lineup against the Angels, the LA Times' Dylan Hernandez reports. | Tim Federowicz was called up Thursday and will start behind the plate. Ellis went 1-for-3 in each of his last two games, but endured an 0-for-13 slump before that. |
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| May 27 2013 | Ellis is not in the lineup Monday against the Angels. | Ellis will get the day off after starting the last three games at catcher. Perhaps it will do him some good, as he's currently riding a 0-for-13 slump at the plate that has resulting in his average plummeting from .280 to .259. |
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| May 24 2013 | Ellis was plowed over at the plate by Cardinals outfielder Jon Jay during the second inning of Friday's game. He was on the ground for several minutes but after being examined by trainers, he stayed in the game. | The hit looked both vicious and clean as Jay helped put the Cardinals up 1-0 in the second. Ellis definitely appeared shaken but obviously dusted himself off and continued. He comes to bat in the third, so if there are any lingering effects, they'll be visible then. |
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| May 22 2013 | Ellis is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Brewers, MLB.com's Ken Gurnick reports. | Ellis has started the last three games behind the plate, so he will get a day off with the Dodgers playing an early afternoon game Wednesday. Ramon Hernandez will enter the lineup in his place. |
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| May 18 2013 | Ellis is not in Saturday's lineup, Bill Shaikin of the LA Times reports. | Tim Federowicz will get the nod behind the plate as Ellis catches some rest. Oddly enough, the Dodgers have yet to use Ellis as a pinch-hitter this season. His days off have truly been just that. |
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| May 12 2013 | Ellis is not in the lineup Sunday, the Los Angeles Times reports. | It looks to be a normal day off after Ellis was behind the plate for the last three games. Tim Federowicz will get the start at catcher Sunday. |
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| Apr 25 2013 | Ellis is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Mets, according to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times. | Ellis has started all but three games behind the plate, so manager Don Mattingly felt it was a good time to get him a day off. Ellis' counting numbers don't pop out, but he has posted a notable .304/.435/.446 slash line through 17 games. |
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| Apr 7 2013 | Ellis is not in the lineup Sunday against the Pirates. | Ellis has already caught all five games for the Dodgers this season and will receive a day of rest. Tim Fedorowicz will be behind the plate for the Dodgers. |
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| Mar 19 2013 | Ellis batting a solid .360/.515/.440 this spring and remains a lock to be the team's primary catcher again this year. | Ellis has yet to hit for much power this spring as evidenced by the .080 ISO, but while he may not hit 13 homers again this year, don't expect the drop-off to be too dramatic. |
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| Jan 27 2013 | Ellis said Sunday that he's fully recovered from the left knee surgery he had in October and is already taking part in all baseball drills, the Los Angeles Times reports. | The Dodgers arranged for Ellis to rehab at the Milwaukee Brewers' medical staff this offseason so the catcher could stay at his home in Franklin, WI. Everything's reportedly gone smoothly, and Ellis is performing catching drills and blocking balls in the dirt. He'll open camp as the unquestioned starter behind the plate. |
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| Jan 18 2013 | Ellis and the Dodgers have avoided arbitration by agreeing on a one-year $2 million contract, Dodgers.com's Ken Gurnick reports. | Ellis is set to be the team's starting catcher off a breakout 2012 season. |
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| Oct 8 2012 | Ellis underwent minor knee surgery Friday and will begin baseball activities in six weeks, the Dodgers' official site reports. | Just a minor clean-up procedure. Perhaps this helps explain Ellis batting just .216 in September. He appears to be in line to return as the team's primary catcher barring any offseason signings. |
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| Oct 3 2012 | Ellis is not in the starting lineup Wednesday, the Dodgers' official Twitter reports. | With the Dodgers removed from playoff contention and in no need to put their best lineup out Wednesday, Ellis will get the day off after starting six games in a row. Tim Federowicz will get the start, catching for Clayton Kershaw. |
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| Oct 3 2012 | Ellis went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer in Tuesday's loss to the Giants. | The home run was Ellis' 13th of the season. With the way the Dodgers' new ownership has thrown money around this season, it would be surprising if they didn't pursue a catcher with more experience than Ellis. |
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| Sep 26 2012 | Ellis is not in the starting lineup Wednesday, the team's official Twitter reports. | A deep slump has caused Ellis' batting average to plummet to .263 on the season, so it's looking like the Dodgers will try to get him more rest to put their best possible lineup on the field. Matt Treanor gets the call behind the plate Wednesday, though he's unlikely to provide much of an upgrade with the bat over the slumping Ellis. |
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| Sep 24 2012 | Ellis is in an 0-for-28 slump, likely driven by workload, the LA Times reports. | Ellis has appeared in 125 games this season, by far a career high at any pro level. Look for the Dodgers to solidify the position with a solid veteran this offseaon. |
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| Sep 16 2012 | Ellis is not in the lineup Sunday against the Cardinals, the Dodgers' official Twitter page reports. | Ellis will get a much-deserved rest after catching the team's last 11 games. Matt Treanor will be behind the plate Sunday. |
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| Aug 29 2012 | Ellis went 2-for-4 with a grand slam in a 10-8 Dodgers' win over the Rockies Wednesday. | Ellis has remained very consistently productive for the Dodgers over the course of this season. Ellis maintains a .281 average with a good walk rate. He has increased his power substantially from previous years, chipping in 16 doubles and 11 home runs this season. In response, the Dodgers have increased the work load of the 31 year old veteran. As a result, Ellis has good fantasy value in many formats at this point. |
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| Aug 26 2012 | Ellis is not in the starting lineup Sunday against the Marlins, according to the Dodgers' official Twitter. | Ellis will get a routine day off after starting all of the Dodgers' past six games. Matt Treanor will get the start behind the plate Sunday. |
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| Aug 12 2012 | Ellis is not in the lineup Sunday, Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times reports. | Ellis caught each of the team's first six games in August, but he'll sit again Sunday after making just two consecutive starts. Ellis isn't believed to be injured, so look for him to be available off the bench, and back behind the plate Monday. |
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| Aug 8 2012 | Ellis is not in the starting lineup Wednesday against the Rockies, the Dodgers' official Twitter page reports. | Ellis will park it after catching each of the team's first six games in August. Since the calender turned from July, Ellis is 6-for-17 with two homers and four RBI. He should be available off the bench Wednesday, and back behind the plate Friday to take on lefty Mark Buehrle and the Marlins. |
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| Aug 4 2012 | Ellis went 3-for-3 with two runs scored, two home runs and three RBI to help lead the Dodgers past the Cubs 6-1 on Friday. | It was the catcher's first multi-homer game of his career and he is now 6-for-14 (.429) with three runs scored, three home runs and four RBI in that span. While Ellis has significantly cooled off in comparison to his first half, the 31-year old is still enjoying a breakout/career year. |
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| Jul 31 2012 | Ellis is not in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Diamondbacks, the Dodgers' official Twitter page reports. | Ellis smacked his eighth homer of the season Saturday, but he'll rest Tuesday after catching four straight. Matt Treanor will catch and bat eighth against lefty Wade Miley. |
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| Jul 28 2012 | Ellis connected on his eighth homer of the season in a 10-0 win over the Giants on Saturday. | Ellis added a double for good measure on the day. Though he's regressed after a hot start to the season, his overall numbers of eight home runs, 29 RBI and a .279 batting average have netted a respectable return for fantasy owners who took a late-round flier on him. |
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| Jul 26 2012 | Ellis is not in the starting lineup Thursday against the Cardinals, MLB.com reports. | Matt Treanor has been serving as the personal catcher for Chris Capuano throughout the season and will do so again Thursday, sending Ellis to the bench. |
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| Jul 22 2012 | Ellis (knee) is back in the starting lineup Sunday against the Mets, Ken Gurnick of Dodgers.com reports. | Ellis missed Saturday's game with left knee soreness, but he'll be back Sunday to square off against lefty Jonathan Niese. |
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| Jul 21 2012 | Ellis is out of the lineup Saturday with left knee soreness, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports. | Matt Treanor will catch Chris Capuano on Saturday, while Ellis expects to return to the lineup as early as Sunday after an MRI of his knee came back negative. |
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| Jul 20 2012 | Ellis is not in the starting lineup Friday against the Mets, Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times reports. | Ellis will yield a start behind the plate to Matt Treanor after catching three straight. |
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| Jul 15 2012 | Ellis is not in the starting lineup Sunday against the Padres, the Dodgers' official Twitter page reports. | Ellis had a tough night Saturday, going 0-for-5 with four strikeouts. The 31-year-old will sit in favor of Matt Treanor, but Ellis will likely return to the lineup Monday against Philadelphia. |
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| Jul 8 2012 | Ellis is not in the starting lineup Sunday against the Diamondbacks, Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times reports. | Ellis will sit after catching three straight contests and Matt Treanor will take over behind the plate and bat eighth against right-hander Trevor Bauer. Ellis had a three-hit night Saturday, and is getting on base at an impressive .404 clip. |
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| Jul 7 2012 | Ellis is batting just .210 with one home run since the end of May. | With Tim Federowicz on fire in Triple-A, Ellis would be well-served to turn things around quickly, or he could find himself on the bench. |
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| Jun 24 2012 | Ellis is not in the starting lineup Sunday against the Angels, the Dodgers' official Twitter reports. | Ellis receives his third day off in seven games and has batted only 1-for-13 in the four games he's started in that span. Matt Treanor will catch for Aaron Harang on Sunday. |
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| Jun 17 2012 | Ellis is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox, the Dodgers' official Twitter page reports. | Ellis caught the team's last seven games, so he'll get some rest and let Matt Treanor take over behind the plate. |
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| Jun 8 2012 | Ellis is in the starting lineup Friday against the Mariners, the Dodgers Team Website reports. | Ellis has been platooning with Matt Treanor, and Friday is Ellis' turn to be behind the plate. |
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| Jun 7 2012 | Ellis is not in the lineup Thursday against the Phillies, the Los Angeles Times reports. | It appears just to be a regular day off for Ellis. Matt Treanor gets the start at catcher in his stead. |
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| Jun 3 2012 | Ellis socked his sixth home run of the season Sunday, finishing 1-for-3 with a walk and two RBI in the Dodgers' loss to the Rockies. | Ellis extended his hitting streak to seven games with the two-run homer. During that stretch, he's batted .296 (8-for-27) with three runs scored, two home runs, and five RBI. Surprisingly, though, Ellis' splits at the plate fell to .315/.430/.503 as the 31-year-old journeyman catcher enjoys the best season of his career. |
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| May 27 2012 | Ellis is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros, the Dodgers' official Twitter page reports. | Ellis caught the team's previous four games, so he'll get a day off and let Matt Treanor take over. Ellis has been getting every fifth day off since Apr. 30, so look for that trend to continue. |
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| May 26 2012 | Ellis went 1-for-4 with a walk-off home run in Saturday's win over the Astros. | He also drew a walk in the game. With Andre Ethier on second, the Astros elected to walk James Loney to set up a double play, as well as get right hander Wilton Lopez to matchup against the right handed hitter Ellis, but Ellis was able to connect on a three-run home run to left to give the Dodgers the win. It was the fifth home run of the season for Ellis. |
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| May 22 2012 | Ellis is back in Tuesday's lineup against Arizona, the Dodgers' official Twitter feed reports. | Ellis, who gave way to Matt Treanor on Monday, will return to his catching duties Tuesday, hitting seventh in the Dodgers' order. |
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| May 21 2012 | Ellis is not in the starting lineup Monday, the Dodgers' official Twitter feed reports. | He'll yield the start to Matt Treanor, and will likely return to action Tuesday. |
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| May 16 2012 | Ellis is not in Wednesday's starting lineup, the Dodgers' official Twitter page reports. | Ellis will yield a start to Matt Treanor after being behind the plate for the team's last four games. |
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| May 15 2012 | Ellis was moved up to fifth in the order Monday against the Diamondbacks and went 1-for-4 with a run scored. | With regulars Matt Kemp, Juan Rivera and Juan Uribe all out, someone had to move up. Ellis entered the night with a .974 OPS, so he was the logical if not necessarily intuitive choice. |
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| May 11 2012 | Ellis is not in the starting lineup Friday, the Dodgers' official Twitter reports. | Backup catcher Matt Treanor has had great success serving as the personal catcher to Chris Capuano, meaning Friday is just a normal rest for Ellis. |
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| May 5 2012 | Ellis is not in the starting lineup Saturday, the Dodgers' official Twitter feed reports. | It's just a day off for the Dodgers' starting catcher, and he's currently sitting with a .451 OBP through 21 games this season. Matt Treanor will catch Chris Capuano on Saturday. |
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| May 1 2012 | Ellis went 2-for-4 with his second homer and three RBI Tuesday against the Rockies. | For some reason, Ellis is still batting eighth despite a .204/.446/.475 batting line. In other news, Adam Kennedy and his .354 OPS hit seventh. |
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| Apr 29 2012 | Ellis is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals, the Dodgers' official Twitter page reports. | Matt Treanor will catch and bat eighth against lefty Gio Gonzalez. Ellis caught the team's previous five games, so it makes sense that he'd be given Sunday off. |
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| Apr 23 2012 | Ellis was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI and is now batting .250/.412/.400. | Any other teams out there that would take an .812 OPS from their catcher? Yeah, lots of raised hands. Ellis has always been a solid OBP guy in the minors, but if he can mix in a few more extra-base hits, the Dodgers will have something here. |
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