The Los Angeles Dodgers, already without catcher Yasmani Grandal, placed catcher A.J. Ellis on the 15-day disabled list Monday with inflammation in his right knee.
The Dodgers recalled catcher Austin Barnes from Triple-A Oklahoma City, and he started Monday night.
Ellis felt tightness in the knee on the team plane Sunday night. An MRI on Monday showed no structural damage, but manager Don Mattingly said Ellis can’t crouch into position.
“No real structural damage, just knee inflammation,” Mattingly said. “(He) actually did pretty good today. I know he was trying to stay off that (DL).
“He was able to hit and throw — pretty much do everything but get into the deep crouch. And that’s really the one thing we’ve got to be able to do.”
Grandal was hit in the mask by a pitch Sunday. X-rays of his jaw were negative, and he is expected to return Wednesday.