Hanley Ramirez to return to Dodgers lineup; rotation still a mystery

After starting the last two games on the bench with a strained right elbow, Hanley Ramirez was penciled into the Dodgers’ lineup Thursday for their series opener against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Manager Don Mattingly warned Ramirez could be a last-minute scratch, but Ramirez appeared to hit and throw before the game without any problems.

While Ramirez figures to return, the rotation remains something of a mess.

With Hyun-Jin Ryu “a stretch” to return from a shoulder injury to start Monday against the San Francisco Giants, Mattingly said the Dodgers are undecided about how they will make up for Ryu’s absence.

“We haven’t made the decision,” Mattingly said of who will start Monday.

Mattingly said Dan Haren remains scheduled to pitch Sunday in the series finale against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, but added this qualifier: “For now.”

Following a disastrous start by rookie Carlos Frias in Colorado on Wednesday, Mattingly acknowledged the Dodgers might have a bullpen game rather than send Frias back to the mound.

Asked whether the Dodgers would consider having a bullpen game Sunday so Haren could start Monday against the Giants, Mattingly said, “Right now, we have a starter for Sunday.”

Zack Greinke will pitch Thursday in the series opener against the Cubs, followed by Clayton Kershaw the next day.

Asked about his level of concern regarding the remainder of his rotation, Mattingly replied, “If I had to worry about going through 162 games right now, it’d be a little different feel. We’re not really in that situation. We’re down to, what, 10 games? I feel OK with where we’re at right now. If we were trying to start the season like this, we’d probably be in a little bit different box. But right now, you feel OK.”