Dodgers’ Hanley Ramirez has hairline fracture in ribs but says he’ll play in Game 3

Hanley Ramirez is giving it his best shot to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night, despite doctors finding a hairline fracture in his painfully sore ribs after taking a CT scan. Ramirez took grounders and batting practice at Dodger Stadium about three hours before the first pitch of Game 3 of the National League Championship Series.

Ramirez did not play in Game 2 after getting hit with a pitch by St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Joe Kelly in Game 1. However, after practicing (and hitting at least one home run) in a test run, he's going to try and play in Game 3.

Ramirez has taken pain medication (not surprisingly) and will have his ribs wrapped as a precaution. Yo, check it out:

And what about Andre Ethier, limited to pinch hitting in Game 2? He said he's able to run down balls hit into the gap, and also will try to play.

The Cardinals lead the Dodgers 2-0 in the best-of-seven set, and a comeback might hinge on Ramirez (or Ethier) being able to produce. The Dodgers haven't scored in 19 innings against the Cardinals, but have been outscored by only two runs combined in 22 innings played. Even one hit hit by Ramirez (or anyone else in the Dodgers lineup) might make a difference. Ace right-hander Adam Wainwright is scheduled to be on the mound for the Cardinals against Hyun-Jin Ryu.

Manager Don Mattingly had said it would be a game-time decision on whether Ramirez, whose fracture is in the eighth rib, started. But he's going to play.

David Brown is an editor at Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Engage him at @AnswerDave on Twitter, where you also can find @bigleaguestew, @Townie813, and @MikeOz. And check out the BLS Facebook Page.
The postseason marches on!