LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers on Friday against the Giants send out what has become a routine lineup for them against left-handed pitching. The all-right-handed outfield of Scott Van Slyke in left field, Matt Kemp in center field, and Yasiel Puig in right field starts against San Francisco starter Madison Bumgarner.
Since Kemp was activated from the disabled list on April 4, the Dodgers will have faced nine left-handed starting pitchers, including Bumgarner on Friday night. They have used the Van Slyke-Kemp-Puig outfield in eight of the nine games, and the only time that trio was broken up was on April 23 when Van Slyke started at first base to give Adrian Gonzalez a breather.
Van Slyke is 9-for-25 with four doubles, three home runs and six walks against left-handers this season, hitting .360/.484/.880 against southpaws.
"He's here to punish lefties," said manager Don Mattingly.
None of the Dodgers have particularly good numbers against Bumgarner — Kemp is 4-for-24 (.167) for instance — but Mattingly hinted on Thursday that he'd stick to the same plan on Friday.
"I know left-handed he wouldn't be a fun at-bat, and I know for the most part I'll stay right-handed," Mattingly said.
Juan Uribe, who left Thursday's game after eight innings with right hamstring soreness, sits on Friday. Justin Turner gets the start at third base, with Dee Gordon starting at second base against a left-handed pitcher for the third time in 10 opportunities this season.