Uribe to Return Monday

The LA Dodgers are expecting to get Juan Uribe back Monday before they begin their series with the Phillies.  Uribe was placed on the DL because of a hip flexor strain.

LA will welcome the return of Uribe and two others, reliever Blake Hawksworth and outfielder Marcus Thames, after losing a pair of starters this weekend.  The team sent Jon Garland and Rafael Furcal to the disabled list yesterday.

With the Dodgers this season, Uribe has gotten a majority of his starts at third base, but he’s also seen action at second and short.  With Furcal on the DL, LA could certainly afford the defensive flexibility Uribe provides.

The 31 year old has not provided LA the same level of offense he did its NL West rival.  In 2009-10 with the Giants, Uribe posted numbers above his career line of .255/.300/.428.  Now with the Dodgers, Uribe has only managed an OPS of .626.

LA is likely to send down recently recalled infielder Ivan DeJesus to make room for Uribe.  DeJesus was brought up to take Furcal’s roster spot.