With the Dodgers down 0-2 and the Cardinals sending one of the best postseason pitchers of this generation in Adam Wainwright to the mound for Monday’s Game 3, the status of Ramirez’s injury is one of the series’ top storylines.
According to Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles, one of Ramirez’s ribs has a “small fracture.” ESPN’s Jayson Stark reported on Monday afternoon that “Ramirez still plans to try to play if he can tolerate the pain. And he was pretty adamant yesterday that that’s his plan.”
Ramirez brings consistent production from the plate as a power hitter also capable of hitting for average. His ability to get on base by being a disciplined hitter who draws walks is another way he makes a positive impact on the lineup.
The 29-year-old batted .345 with 20 home runs and 57 RBIs in only 86 regular season games, and walked three times with a run scored in L.A’s 3-2 loss to the Cardinals in Game 1 of the series.
The Dodgers need Ramirez to be back in the lineup as soon as possible because the two players most likely to play shortstop in his absence, Nick Punto and Michael Young, are hitting a combined 1-for-7 with three strikeouts in the NLCS.
