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Yasmani Grandal is back in the starting lineup on Saturday as the Dodgers look to erase the bad taste in their mouth from Friday’s loss.
The Dodgers’ backstop had the last two nights off based on a lefty on the mound and back spasms that cropped up on the team’s most recent road trip.
Manager Dave Roberts has the luxury of having three capable catchers on the roster and hasn’t had to worry about who is behind the dish on any given night. The Dodgers believe they have the best catching tandem in the league with Barnes and Grandal.
“We’re very comfortable with the way Austin is swinging the bat,” Roberts said. “The combination of those two players is very productive.”
Starting Lineups
| Pos | Padres | Pos | Dodgers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Padres | Pos | Dodgers |
| CF | Margot | LF | Taylor |
| 2B | Asuaje (L) | SS | Seager (L) |
| LF | Pirela | 3B | Turner |
| RF | Renfroe | 1B | Bellinger (L) |
| 1B | Myers | CF | Pederson (L) |
| SS | Solarte (S) | C | Grandal (S) |
| 3B | Spangenberg (L) | 2B | Utley (L) |
| C | Hedges | RF | Puig |
| P | Chacin | P | Ryu |
Chase Utley gets the start at second base and is hitting .317/.364/.537 with two homers and three doubles over his last 18 games (9 starts). Even though he is hitting a light .237 this season, Utley has hit .277/.370/.479 at Dodger Stadium with 12 doubles and four homers.
The Dodgers are 39-20 when Utley is in the starting lineup.
Several Dodgers have hit Padres starter Jhoulys Chacin well, led by Justin Turner (5-for-13) and Yasiel Puig (6-for-17). Chacin was roughed up on opening day for nine runs at Dodger Stadium but has only allowed one run over his next two starts — both in San Diego — against the Dodgers.
There is no greater example of the pitcher Chacin has been then by his outings against the Dodgers. The right-hander has a 1.86 ERA at home this year as opposed to a 7.36 on the road.
The Padres will see a different Hyun-jin Ryu than the last time the lefty faced them. Ryu’s only start of 2016 came against San Diego and they ambushed him for six runs on eight hits over 4 2⁄3 innings.
Ryu brings a 15-inning scoreless streak into Saturday which is the second longest of his career. The lefty has a chance to break his own mark that he set of 18 innings back in April of 2014.