A.J. Ellis' move to DL part of numbers game

DENVER -- Catcher A.J. Ellis, who knows something about the numbers game from his days of being optioned to the Minor Leagues, went on the 15-day disabled list Sunday mainly because the Dodgers needed a 25-man roster spot.

Believing pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu would miss only one start with a bruised foot, they didn't want to disable Ryu for 15 days to make room for spot starter Matt Magill in Sunday's series finale against the Rockies.

Ellis suffered a legitimate, if slight, oblique strain Wednesday. He's pretty much healed by now, but with sudden depth behind the plate from Ramon Hernandez and Tim Federowicz, the roster roulette wheel landed on Ellis' No. 17.

"We didn't think it would be only two or three days or 15, but long enough that we had to do something," said manager Don Mattingly.

This is the first time Ellis has been on a disabled list at any level since he broke his hand in his third professional game in 2003.