After passing tests, Uribe available off bench

LOS ANGELES -- Third baseman Juan Uribe passed running and defensive tests on Monday, and manager Don Mattingly said he would be available off the bench in the series-opening game against Miami.

Uribe missed three starts after straining his right hamstring beating out a double-play grounder.

Mattingly said that the Dodgers have missed Uribe's glove and bat. A career .253 hitter, Uribe is batting .306 with four homers and 17 RBIs. Justin Turner, who is hitting .180, started at third base on Monday night.

"We don't feel like it'll be 15 [days]," Mattingly said of the decision not to put Uribe on the disabled list.

The Dodgers were reluctant to put Uribe on the DL because they have no Major League-ready prospect at the position. Rather, they have a pair of top shortstop prospects, Corey Seager and Erisbel Arruebarrena. Many scouts believe that Seager is better suited at third base, but the Dodgers have resisted making that move with the former first-round pick.