Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodgers infielder Jerry Hairston is set to begin his minor-league rehab assignment Friday at Class A Rancho Cucamonga, as he continues to recovery from knee tendinitis.

Hairston will play third base and bat second. It is not known how long he will stay on his rehab assignment, after being on the disabled list since May 6 and already suffering a setback in his recovery last week.  

Dodgers third baseman Hanley Ramirez told the Orange County Register Friday that he feels ready to return from a hamstring injury, but the team does not agree.  

"I've been trying to come back. They won't let me," he said. He later clarified that he understands the team's position, saying, "I don’t want to come back early and then go back on the DL for two months."

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Ramirez will likely need four or five rehab games before returning from his injury, though a schedule has not been set.

"I don’t think he’s quite as close as it may look," said Mattingly. 

Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier is back in the starting lineup Friday night against the Cardinals.

Ethier, who has not played since Tuesday, is hitting .231 (3 for 13) with a home run and two RBI in his last five games played (three starts).

Like most of his teammates, Dodgers utility infielder Skip Schumaker has struggled to get going so far this year. But Schumaker, who is hitting .213 for a last-place team, isn't worried.

"From experience it takes awhile for everyone to come together and to have chemistry. Once that happens and everyone can trust each other, we'll be all right," Schumaker told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

For his part, Schumaker is showing signs of life recently, despite not playing every day. He has started six of the last 10 games, and is batting .304 in that span. 

Dodgers prospect Aaron Miller has been moved from the mound to the outfield, according to MLB.com.

Miller, who was an outfielder in college, was 0-2 with a 6.00 ERA in his first season as a reliever at Double-A Chattanooga. He went 20-19 with a 4.03 ERA in his minor-league career as a pitcher.

"He was a two-way player coming out of Baylor when we drafted him, and we liked what we saw in his bat when he pitched." vice president for player development De Jon Watson said. "We felt this was the right time to make the switch, given his age and his desire to continue pursuing his big-league dream and help this organization."