Scott Van Slyke starts, Yasmani Grandal sits again for Dodgers vs. Braves

The Dodgers didn't have to option Scott Van Slyke to the minors on Tuesday, and it was a good thing because he gets to start against Braves left-hander Alex Wood in the second game of a three-game series at Turner Field.

It is the first start for Van Slyke since July 8. Since returning from the disabled list on June 17, this is just the eighth start in 30 games for Van Slyke, who has accumulated 36 plate appearances during that span.

Van Slyke is hitting .286/.457/.514 (10-for-35) with two home runs and nine walks against southpaws this season.

Yasmani Grandal sits again, getting a second game off after taking a foul ball directly off his mask. Austin Barnes gets a second straight start after going 2-for-4 on Monday, though with breakfast baseball on Wednesday morning it seems likely Grandal will return behind the plate in the series finale.

Jimmy Rollins, in an 0-for-18 slump dating back to the final game before the All-Star break, gets a day off on Tuesday, with Kiké Hernandez starting at shortstop.

This is Hernandez's 10th start at shortstop this season, to go with six starts at second base, four starts in left field, four starts in center field and one start in right field this season.

Old friend Ryan Lavarnway starts at catcher for the Braves, batting eighth. The Dodgers claimed Lavarnway off waivers from the Red Sox on Dec. 5, but then during their flurry of winter meetings moves designated him for assignment, losing him on waivers to the Cubs on Dec. 19.

Lavarnway's travels were far from over though, as he ultimately ended up with the Orioles and Braves, playing in the majors this season for both.