Howie Kendrick back in left field for Dodgers' opener with Braves

The Dodgers begin a three-game series against the Braves on Tuesday night at Turner Field, and Howie Kendrick gets the call in left field in the opener.

This is the third start of the season for Kendrick in left field. He is 4-for-19 (.211) with a walk in the early going. Prior to the last week, Kendrick hadn't started in left field since 2011.

The Dodgers face right-handed starting pitchers all week, including Williams Perez on Tuesday, so there is no real opportunity for a platoon advantage with the three main candidates for left field — Kike Hernandez, Kendrick and Trayce Thompson — all right-handed.

Kendrick is 1-for-3 in his career against Perez.

Atlanta originally listed Julio Teheran as its Tuesday starter, but he was filling in for Matt Wisler, who got a save in relief on Sunday. The new Braves rotation order for the series is Perez, then Teheran on Wednesday, followed by Wisler on getaway morning on Thursday.

Adrian Gonzalez, who has started every game so far this season, is 2-for-3 against Perez in his career. Joc Pederson is also 2-for-3, with a double against him.

Yasmani Grandal is behind the plate, the first Dodgers catcher to start three straight games this season. Grandal has reached base in his last six plate appearances.

Since Alex Wood has never faced the Braves, it is understandable that so few currently on the team have faced him. But three Braves have a history with Wood, albeit brief.

Jeff Francoeur is 5-for-13 (.385) with two walks against Wood, and starts in left field. The other two are in reserve — Drew Stubbs is 1-for-2 with two walks, and A.J. Pierzynski is 1-for-1.