Joc Pederson bats leadoff for the first time in 2016

Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson bats leadoff for the Dodgers for the first time all season on Saturday night against the Brewers.

Pederson started 69 times batting leadoff in 2015, but so far in 2016 has started 27 times batting sixth, 12 times batting eighth, eight times batting seventh, six times batting fifth and twice hitting cleanup.

On the season, Pederson is hitting .229/.316/.468 and tied for second with 11 home runs and tied for second with 25 walks. In his last 12 games Pederson is hitting .268/.302/.585 with three home runs and four doubles. He batted sixth in each of the first two games of this series, and has batted sixth in each of his last 10 starts.

The leadoff spot was available on Saturday because Chase Utley is getting a day off, with Howie Kendrick getting the start at second base, batting sixth.

Kiké Hernandez gets the start in left field, with Trayce Thompson in right field, after newcomer Will Venable started the last two games in right field. Venable hit a ground rule double leading off the 10th inning on Friday night, starting the game-winning rally.

Yasmani Grandal, starting his third straight game behind the plate, is 3-for-10 against Brewers starter Chase Anderson, and all three hits are home runs.

The Brewers, facing a right-hander in Mike Bolsinger for the first time all series, start left-handed batters Kirk Newenhuis and Ramon Flores in center field and right field, respectively.

Bolsinger and Anderson came up together in the Diamondbacks' system, but have known each other for much longer than that. Born two months apart, they were teammates at 15 on a Dallas-area summer league, and Bolsinger was the best man in Anderson's wedding. Anderson was in Bolsinger's wedding party as well.