Ortiz among potential Red Sox options with Ramirez day-to-day

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SEATTLE -- For now, the news is relatively good where Hanley Ramirez is concerned: x-rays and an MRI, performed in a span of about 15 hours, revealed that Ramirez is suffering only from a sprain to his left wrist, and not, as had been feared, any structural damage that would have necessitated a longer recovery period.
Predictably, Ramirez was out of the lineup Wednesday night at Safeco Field, with Travis Shaw at first base and Aaron Hill at third.
Ramirez tripped down some dugout steps in the immediate aftermath of the Red Sox 5-4 loss to the Mariners here Tuesday night, using his wrist to brace himself as he went down.
"He's got some soreness in there,'' said John Farrell. "He's day-to-day. I would expect to (miss) a couple of days at least. He went down in here pretty hard, reaching back. We wanted to make sure that we did a full exam that included all that imaging. Structurally sound, but still sore.''
The Red Sox sent the imaging back to Boston, where a hand specialist concurring with the diagnosis of the doctors in Seattle.
The injury leaves the Red Sox a man short for the next few days.
"He's not a DL candidate at this point,'' said Farrell. "We're going to give it every opportunity for him to get back in the lineup.''
His injury comes at a particularly bad time, as Ramirez had recently discovered the power switch to his game, hitting his sixth homer in the last 13 games Tuesday night. Since June 22, Ramirez had posted a slash line of .310/.400/.619 with 23 RBI in his last 31 games.
Ramirez's absence in the coming days leaves open the possibility -- and it's no more than that at this point -- of David Ortiz playing some first base in the three interleague games at Dodger Stadium this weekend.
In past years, Ortiz usually played a handful games in N.L. parks, but concern over his feet, heels and Achilles have led the Sox to restrict Ortiz to pinch-hitting duties in two interleague series earlier this season in Atlanta and San Francisco.
"That's something I've got to talk about further with David,'' said Farrell. "I've yet to have that (conversation).''
Beyond Ortiz's feedback, there will be discussions with the medical staff to determine whether it's wise to have Ortiz play in the field after not having done so since last season.
In recent months, Ortiz has needed additional rest, and running the bases has become more problematic.
"I'm not closing the door on it,'' said Farrell. "I just want to explore it with David and see where he's at, in addition to the recommendation by our medical staff.''
If Ortiz were to play first base at all this weekend in L.A., it's likely that would take place Saturday in the middle game of the three-game series. That would be against righthander Bud Norris, and would allow Ortiz to get a day off Friday after a late-night arrival Friday morning as the team travels from here to Los Angeles.
In the meantime, the Sox can use either Travis Shaw or Brock Holt at first base, with Shaw, Aaron Hill and Holt available at third.

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