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Andrew Toles starts in center field for his major league debut

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Not only was Andrew Toles called up to the Dodgers on Friday after starting the season in Class-A Rancho Cucamonga, but he will start in center field and bat eighth against the Padres in his major league debut in the second game of this weekend series at Dodger Stadium.

Toles reached base by hit or walk in each of his last six games with Triple-A Oklahoma City, going 10-for-25 (.400) with a walk and a sacrifice fly (.407 on-base percentage) during that span, plus three doubles and a home run.

Howie Kendrick gets the start in left field on Friday after starting the series opener at second base. Chase Utley is back in the leadoff spot after getting a day off Thursday, after collecting a career-high six hits in Wednesday's 14-inning marathon loss to Baltimore.

Yasmani Grandal, with four home runs in his last 10 starts, is back at catcher. After a slow start to the season, Grandal is now tied for second on the team with 32 walks, six behind Adrian Gonzalez. Grandal leads the Dodgers with a 14.6-percent walk rate on the season, though Brandon McCarthy (one walk in two plate appearances) might claim otherwise.

Grandal has 21 walks in his last 31 games and 109 plate appearances.

He walked 11 times in 50 plate appearances (22 percent) in 2015 against the Padres, his old team, but this year has yet too earn a free pass in 17 PA against San Diego.