Dodgers field 'regular' lineup again vs. Braves

The Dodgers will field the closest thing they have had to a regular lineup on Wednesday night against the Braves at Turner Field, the same first eight players they started in Tuesday's series opener.

This is actually the third straight game for the Dodgers with both the same batting order and same positions for their first eight, including Chase Utley at second base, Howie Kendrick in left field and Yasmani Grandal at catcher.

The Dodgers will have used these eight, both at these positions and in this order, four times in 15 games, making it their most common lineup to date. There is only one other set that has been used more than once this season.

With six opposing right-handed pitchers for this road trip, expect something close to this lineup to continue, though with a day game after a night game both on Thursday and Sunday, expect some days off to be worked in as well at various positions.

Following up on this morning's discussion of the importance of the first pitch, Braves starter Julio Teheran takes that to the extreme. Hitters against Teheran this year after a 1-0 count are 12-for-24 with five walks, while hitters after an 0-1 count are 2-for-40 (.050) against the right-hander, per David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution as passed on by Dodgers broadcaster Joe Davis.

With the right-handed Ross Stripling on the mound for the Dodgers, the Braves have infused their lineup with more left-handed batters, inserting A.J. Pierzynski at catcher, Kelly Johnson at second base and Jace Peterson in left field. Atlanta has six lefties and one switch-hitter (Erick Aybar) in its starting lineup on Wednesday.

Adonis Garcia was slated to play third base but was scratched with a left knee contusion. Daniel Castro starts at the hot corner instead.

Atlanta roster move

The Braves did some more shuffling of their pitchers, sending Tuesday starter Williams Perez to Triple-A Gwinnett and calling up pitcher Casey Kelly, who was once traded for Adrian Gonzalez, back in December 2010. Gonzalez is 2-for-5 with a walk against Kelly in his career.