Manager buying into Justin Sellers

When starting shortstop Hanley Ramirez went down with an injury that would keep him sidelined two months, the Dodgers were expected to slide Luis Cruz over from third base to the position. But that thinking has seemingly changed, as manager Don Mattingly is not fully committed to Cruz after watching Justin Sellers handle the position with better range recently.

"Not really," he told the Los Angeles Times on Thursday. "We're still looking at other options. I like Sellers -- he's not bad. He can catch it a little bit."

Sellers was reassigned to the team's minor-league camp on March 19, but returned to the parent club Wednesday and played in the past two games, collecting a hit in both.

"I hope I'm in the mix," he said. "They know I can play shortstop. For me to get the call the other night, to tell me I'm coming back up here, that means a lot to me. Just so I know I'm in the back of their minds and they have the confidence in me."