Yasiel Puig remains out of Dodgers lineup

The Dodgers are going with what is looking like the new usual lineup against a right-hander, in their series opener against the Diamondbacks on Friday night at Dodger Stadium.

That means, for the seventh straight game, Yasiel Puig is out of the lineup, including the sixth game since he suffered right hamstring tightness while running to first base in Washington D.C.

Puig last played last Friday in St. Louis, in a pinch-hit appearance. If the Dodgers were to put Puig on the disabled they could back date the move to Saturday. But it seems like the Dodgers for now are content with buying time before making a decision.

"We have four starters, and coverage if we want with five guys on the bench. It's not a make or break right now," manager Dave Roberts said on Tuesday.

That was three days ago, when Roberts said a DL decision on Puig wouldn't come until at least Wednesday. It didn't come then either. One has to wonder if it will ever come.

The Dodgers' off day on Monday is their third in an eight-day span, one that affords them the opportunity to keep a roster with only four starting pitchers, and with five bench players the luxury of keeping Puig active even if he is unavailable. But with rumors swirling and the non-waiver trade deadline also looming, the certainty of Puig's return to the Dodgers lineup may not be clear until after 1 p.m. PT on Monday.

For now, the Dodgers roll with Andrew Toles in right field, and the same lineup they have had in their last four games against right-handed pitching.

Arizona roster move

Before the weekend series, the Diamondbacks activated outfielder David Peralta from the 15-day disabled list after he missed 35 games with a lower back strain. Peralta also missed 26 games earlier this season on the DL with right wrist inflammation. He starts in right field and bats sixth on Friday night.

Utility man Mike Freeman was optioned to Triple-A Reno to make room for Peralta.