Carlos Ruiz activated, bats 6th in Dodgers debut

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers on Friday activated new catcher Carlos Ruiz and started him in the series opener against the Cubs at Dodger Stadium.

Ruiz, acquired on Thursday from the Phillies for A.J. Ellis and minor league pitcher Tommy Bergjans, bats sixth on Friday night against left-handed pitcher Mike Montgomery, starting for the Cubs.

Ruiz is hitting .250/.421/.409 in 57 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers and hasn’t had an OPS under .830 against lefties since 2011.

Since the beginning of July, Ruiz is hitting .345/.471/.400 (19-for-55, with 10 walks), having reached base by hit or walk in 16 of his 17 games during that span.

Yasmani Grandal started each of the previous five games at catcher, the first time all season he started five consecutive days. Grandal never started more than three consecutive days before the All-Star break, but since the All-Star break has done so four different times.

Chase Utley gets a rare start against a left-hander, just his second start all year against a southpaw, and he bats eighth, the first time he has batted anywhere but leadoff in 2016.

Also getting a start is the left-handed Josh Reddick, batting seventh in right field.