Dodgers call up reliever Justin Miller

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The Dodgers called up Justin Miller from triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday and made space on the 40-man roster for the heavily tattooed reliever by designating Ramon Ortiz for assignment.

Miller has pitched 24 1/3 innings in 18 games for Albuquerque, posting a 2.22 earned-run average. He will take the spot in the bullpen that belongs to Carlos Monasterios, who is scheduled to start in Colorado on Friday. A source had earlier indicated that the announcement of Miller’s promotion would come on Friday.

A 32-year-old journeyman who grew up in Torrance, Miller was 3-3 with a 3.18 ERA in 44 appearances for San Francisco last season. He had a 1.83 ERA in 39 appearances through Aug. 20.

Miller, who has also pitched for Toronto and Florida, is 24-14 in his career with a 4.84 ERA.

The Dodgers signed him to a minor-league contract over the winter.

Miller is perhaps best known as the inspiration for the “Justin Miller rule”: Because opposing hitters found the ink-work on his non-throwing arm so distracting, baseball officials ordered him to wear long-sleeved shirts when pitching.

Ortiz, 37, was 1-2 with a 6.30 ERA in 16 games, including two starts. Manager Joe Torre said that General Manager Ned Colletti has asked Ortiz to consider a minor-league assignment.

Torre said the Dodgers are expecting to make another move in the next day or so, and that Andre Ethier would play for Albuquerque in Memphis on Friday and Saturday as part of a minor-league rehabilitation assignment.

-- Dylan Hernandez