Dodgers’ Hanley Ramirez to see doctor Thursday

The Dodgers, not sure when shortstop Hanley Ramirez might return to their lineup, are sending him to the team orthopedist for evaluation Thursday.

Ramirez is hampered by an irritated joint in his right shoulder. He did not start Tuesday or Wednesday here, and the same injury forced him to miss two starts in Cincinnati two weeks ago.

At that time, Ramirez got a cortisone shot to combat inflammation in the shoulder. Manager Don Mattingly said Wednesday that Ramirez has not received a cortisone shot this week but would see Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Thursday for consultation and testing, which could include an MRI examination.

As Ramirez sat in the clubhouse Wednesday, his right shoulder was wrapped in ice.

Mattingly said the Dodgers expect to activate third baseman Juan Uribe on Thursday. Uribe, 35, who has not played since May 20 because of a hamstring strain, batted .316 in 19 at-bats during a five-game rehabilitation assignment at Class-A Rancho Cucamonga.

The Dodgers also made a roster move Wednesday, calling up first baseman Clint Robinson from triple-A Albuquerque and designating utilityman Jamie Romak for assignment. Romak, 28, batted .048 in his major league debut, with one hit and eight strikeouts in 21 at-bats.

Robinson, 29, was promoted to serve as a left-handed pinch-hitter. He batted .309 with 14 home runs in 77 games at Albuquerque, including a .355 average against right-handers.

Robinson said he signed with the Dodgers as a minor league free agent not because he expected to get called up but because he knew Albuquerque was a hitter’s haven.

“It’s a good place to put up some numbers and rebuild value for next year,” he said.

Wednesday’s game marks the eighth this season in which Ramirez has not started because of injury -- four for this shoulder injury, three because of a bruised calf, and one because of a bruised thumb.

Ramirez, 30, is eligible for free agency this fall. He says he wants to stay, and the Dodgers say they want to keep him, but they also want to assess his durability before committing what might be $100 million or more on him.