Adrian Gonzalez, Chase Utley get rare rest in Dodgers opener with Marlins

LOS ANGELES -- For the first time all season, Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez is not in the starting lineup, getting a planned day of rest against the Marlins with left-hander Wei-Yin Chen on the mound.

Gonzalez is off to a hot start this season, hitting .351/.417/.527 while leading the club in hits (26), home runs (three), RBI (15) and walks (nine).

In addition to the production, Gonzalez has proven durable throughout his career, averaging 159 games and 156 starts per year from 2006-2015. This season, as he has since joining the Dodgers, he leads the club in games (19), plate appearances (84) and defensive innings (167).

Another productive left-handed veteran getting a rest on Monday is Chase Utley, who is hitting .319/.373/.464 in the early going. Utley started 15 of the first 19 games at second base, including each of the last eight games in a row before Monday.

Yasmani Grandal and Howie Kendrick get the starts on Monday night at first base and second base, respectively.

The use of Grandal is rare since both active catchers on the roster will be used at the same time. It allows the Dodgers to field an all-right-handed lineup, with Charlie Culberson filling in for Corey Seager at shortstop and Trayce Thompson in center field for Joc Pederson.

Many managers are risk averse in not wanting to use both catchers, for fear one or both get hurt or are unavailable. But Roberts seemed to embrace the opportunity to play both Grandal and Ellis.

"There is definitely a possibility the second catcher gets hurt, but I'm not going to manage against that minimal probability," Roberts said.

Kiké Hernandez, 8-for-12 with two home runs, two doubles and three walks against southpaws this season, bats leadoff and plays left in the series opener.