Adrian Gonzalez back in Dodgers lineup after fouling ball off his knee

LOS ANGELES -- Adrian Gonzalez was correct in his premonition that he would 100-percent play on Friday against the Cubs. The Dodgers first baseman is batting third on Friday night in the opener of a three-game weekend series at Dodger Stadium, one day after fouling a ball directly off his right knee.

Gonzalez fouled the ball off his knee in the third inning against the Reds on Thursday in Cincinnati, then remained in the game for two more defensive innings before coming out in the fifth.

Gonzalez, who averaged 159 games played from 2006-2014, has played in 123 of the Dodgers' 126 games this season, including a team-best 118 starts.

He is familiar with Cubs starter Jason Hammel; Gonzalez's 39 plate appearances are the third-most against the right-hander, though Gonzalez is just 6-for-35 (.171) with a home run, two doubles and four walks against him.

Chase Utley is 4-for-7 (.571) with a home run against Hammel, though the two haven't faced each other since 2011.

With a right hamstring sidelining Yasiel Puig, Andre Ethier gets the call in right field. Ethier is 9-for-27 (.333) with two home runs, a double and five walks against Hammel, but more importantly Ethier is hitting .382/.424/.600 in August.