Andre Ethier returns to Dodgers’ training facility to get at-bats

The Dodgers are going the Matt Kemp rehab route with Andre Ethier’s ankle injury.

Ethier has returned to the team’s training facility in Phoenix so he can continue hitting against live pitching while the team crosses its fingers and hopes the ankle heals.

Manager Don Mattingly said Ethier had about 15 at-bats Friday. Ethier is not expected to rejoin the team until Monday night, confirming his regular season is over.

“It’s a similar situation with what we were trying to do with Matt, basically trying to get him as many at-bats as we can timing-wise,” Mattingly said. “Without the running part, he can kind of get the timing part the next two or three days.”

Ethier is suffering from what the team described as shin split symptoms in his left ankle. He has not started a game since Sept. 13.

Mattingly said Ethier is doing some straight-ahead running in Arizona. The most severe pain, however, strikes Ethier when he is running the bases and having to turn.

“The thing that’s hurt him is the turns, so they really don’t want to do any turns until they have to,” he said. “Just allow the maximum time for it to heal.”

Kemp spent weeks at the team’s training facility while coming back from an ankle and then a hamstring issue.

Mattingly also said Chris Capuano is now available following a groin injury, though he didn’t sound like someone eager to get him into a game to determine whether he can pitch out of the bullpen in the postseason.

“Cap’s available, depending on the game,” Mattingly said. “We’re playing pretty much normal, we’re not going to do anything special to try and force him into a game or anything like that. But if a situation calls for it …”