clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Kiké Hernandez starts in center field for Dodgers in opener with Giants

Joc Pederson sits after leaving with groin tightness Sunday

MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at Arizona Diamondbacks Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers try to continue their offensive production of this road trip with Monday night’s series opener against the Giants in San Francisco.

Though they lost two of three games to the Diamondbacks in Arizona, the Dodgers did score at least five runs in all three games, their longest streak since last Sept. 21-24.

They will have Kiké Hernandez in center field on Monday night, the first time someone other than Joc Pederson will start at the position against a right-hander this season. Pederson had left Sunday’s game with tightness in his groin, felt while running to first base on a sixth-inning ground out.

Starting lineups

Pos Dodgers Pos Giants
Pos Dodgers Pos Giants
LF Toles (L) RF Pence
SS Seager (L) 1B Belt (L)
3B Turner LF Nunez
C Grandal (S) C Posey
1B Gonzalez (L) SS Crawford (L)
RF Puig 3B Arroyo
2B Utley (L) 2B Panik (L)
CF Hernandez CF Stubbs
P Ryu P Cain
Time: 7:15 p.m. PT TV: SportsNet LA, MLB Network

Hernandez bats eighth against the right-hander Matt Cain.

Yasmani Grandal bats cleanup on Monday, with Adrian Gonzalez moved to fifth, the first time in 10 games against a right-handed pitcher this season that Gonzalez isn’t hitting fourth (hat tip to David Young for that note).

San Francisco roster moves

The Giants were busy before Monday’s game with a pair of moves. They called up infielder Christian Arroyo, their top position-player prospect, and outfielder Drew Stubbs from Triple-A Sacramento.

Arroyo, who turns 22 in May, was hitting .446/.478/.692 with seven doubles and three home runs in 16 games in the minors. Primarily a shortstop, the right-hander also started three games each at third base and second base. He starts at third base on Monday night.

Stubbs was signed to a minor league contract on Apr. 5 after spending spring training as a non-roster invitee with the Twins, and was hitting .256/.348/.436 in 10 games with Sacramento. He starts in center field for San Francisco.

The corresponding roster moves were Aaron Hill placed on the 10-day disabled list with a right forearm strain, and outfielder Chris Marrero designated for assignment. Marrero was 5-for-38 (.132) in 15 games, including nine starts in left field.