Yasiel Puig makes first NLDS start in Dodgers' RHB-heavy lineup vs. Matz, Mets

The Dodgers as expected are going with a right-handed heavy lineup against left-hander Steven Matz for the Mets in Game 4 of their National League Division Series, including Yasiel Puig making his first start of the postseason.

Puig is batting sixth and playing right field, just his second start in six possible games since getting activated from the disabled list on Oct. 3, the penultimate day of the regular season. Puig missed 34 games with a strained right hamstring.

It has been an injury-plagued season for Puig, who also missed 39 games earlier in the season with a strained left hamstring. He hit .255/.322/.436 with 11 home runs in 79 games in the regular season, including .279/.380/.544 with five home runs and three doubles in 79 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers.

Puig has played twice in this series as a reserve, one in right field and once as a pinch-hitter, striking out in Games 2 and 3.

He is joined in the outfield by Kiké Hernandez, who hit .423/.471/.744 with 15 extra-base hits in 87 plate appearances against lefties, and Justin Ruggiano, who hit .333/.388/.667 with eight extra-base hits in 49 PA against lefties with the Dodgers, and hit .301/.370/.578 against them on the season.

A.J. Ellis is back at catcher, hitting .260/.394/.519 against southpaws with five home runs and five doubles in 94 plate appearances on the season.

Corey Seager is back at shortstop, joining Adrian Gonzalez as the only two position players batting left-handed in the Dodgers lineup.

The Mets lineup against Clayton Kershaw is the same as Game 3, with one slight change. Lucas Duda moves from fifth to sixth in the batting order, swapping spots with catcher Travis d'Arnaud.