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Andre Ethier makes first start in 10 games for Dodgers

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

LOS ANGELES -- For the first time in 10 games, Andre Ethier is in the starting lineup. Ethier is starting in left field for the Dodgers in their series finale against the Cubs on Sunday afternoon at Dodger Stadium.

Ethier makes his first start since July 22, thanks in part to his two career home runs against Cubs starter Edwin Jackson. Ethier is 5-for-15 (.333) against the former Dodger.

Ethier had played in just four of the last nine games as a reserve for a total of five plate appearances - four strikeouts and a walk - and seven innings in the field. This is his seventh start in left field this season, to go with 53 starts in center field and nine in right field.

Yasiel Puig returns to the lineup after getting Saturday off as a precaution with mild left hamstring tightness. Adrian Gonzalez is back at first base, too, after not starting Saturday as a planned day off coupled with bruising his right knee on Friday night.

Drew Butera is back behind the plate as planned after catching all 12 innings on Saturday. Manager Don Mattingly said A.J. Ellis was available to catch on Saturday in an emergency and would be available on Sunday if needed, but if at all possible they would like to give Ellis another full day of rest for his sore right knee.

Justin Turner starts at second base, his third different infield position in three days. Dee Gordon gets a day off after starting 21 straight games and 44 of the last 46 contests. Mattingly said it wasn't so much a planned day off for Gordon, but one to rest a tired player.

"I've had coaches tell me, 'Dee looks like he needs a day'," Mattingly said.