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LOS ANGELES -- A.J. Ellis gets the start at catcher for the Dodgers on Saturday night against the Padres in what was a planned start, even before Yasmani Grandal was injured in Friday night's series opener.
Grandal suffered a concussion and on Saturday was placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list before the game. Austin Barnes, the only other catcher on the Dodgers' 40-man roster, was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City to take his place.
For Ellis, this is his 12th start in 42 games this season. He has yet to start back-to-back games this season, and at the plate is just 5-for-36 (.139) with four walks.
Andre Ethier gets the start in right field for the Dodgers, his 22nd start in the last 26 games. He is 13-for-36 (.361) with three home runs, three doubles (.694 slugging percentage) and four walks against Padres starter Ian Kennedy. First baseman Adrian Gonzalez is 11-for-41 (.268) with four doubles, three home runs (.585 slugging) and four walks against Kennedy.
Gonzalez has six home runs in seven games against the Padres this season.
Austin Hedges, one of the Padres' top prospects, gets the start at catcher for San Diego, his fourth start behind the plate.
Will Middlebrooks makes his first professional career start at shortstop on Saturday. He has played there for two outs in one game in his career, earlier this season with the Padres. Middlebrooks started at third base on Friday night.