"We joked back and forth," Dickey said. "I told him I brought the big mitt for him and he asked if I could catch him instead. He's got a sense of humor about it."
Ruiz will use a larger catcher's mitt with Dickey on the mound. The only experience he has with the pitch was in 2005 while at triple-A Scranton with a righty named Jared Fernandez.
"I don't think I'll have trouble," Ruiz said. "I can handle that."
Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer has previously caught Dickey and had a warning for Ruiz.
"It could be a little nerve-racking," Mauer said, "especially when guys get on base."
Hamels and Harper
Though Cole Hamels intentionally plunked 19-year-old Bryce Harper in May, he went out of his way to inform reporters a few weeks ago that he voted for him for the All-Star Game. The pitcher had more praise Monday for Harper, his teammate this week.
"From the first day I saw him play, he is a tremendous talent," Hamels said. "He is fun to watch. To see him on this sort of stage is pretty cool.
"It's not like whatever people make it seem. I really do respect him and the way he plays."
Extra bases
Roy Halladay is likely to make a rehab start Thursday for single-A Clearwater. That would put him on track to start in Los Angeles for the fifth game of the second half. . . . If Ruiz enters the game in the fifth inning, it's conceivable he could catch both Hamels and Jonathan Papelbon.
Contact Matt Gelb at mgelb@phillynews.com or follow on Twitter @magelb.
