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The Dodgers unleash their shiny new toy on Saturday, with newcomer Curtis Granderson batting fifth and playing left field in the middle game of their weekend series against the Tigers.
Granderson will wear number six with his new team.
Newest #Dodgers Curtis Granderson pic.twitter.com/gQa72niRkV
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) August 19, 2017
Curtis Granderson said he expects to mostly play left field.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) August 19, 2017
Said he will play wherever he's told but he expects it mostly to be left field
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) August 19, 2017
Dave Roberts plans on using Granderson primarily in LF & RF #Dodgers
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) August 19, 2017
This is the fifth start of the season in left field for Granderson, who started 56 games in center field and 24 games in right field for the Mets.
Starting lineups
| Pos | Dodgers | Pos | Tigers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Dodgers | Pos | Tigers |
| CF | Taylor | 2B | Kinsler |
| SS | Seager (L) | RF | Mahtook |
| DH | Turner | LF | Upton |
| RF | Bellinger (L) | 1B | Cabrera |
| CF | Granderson (L) | 3B | Castellanos |
| C | Grandal (S) | DH | Martinez (S) |
| 1B | Gonzalez (L) | C | McCann |
| 3B | Forsythe | CF | Jones |
| 2B | Utley (L) | SS | Iglesias |
Granderson has six home runs in 50 plate appearances in August, hitting .256/.360/.721 in 14 games.
Chris Taylor, who started at shortstop in the series opener, gets the call in center field on Saturday, with Joc Pederson the odd man out with Granderson on board.
Cody Bellinger moves to right field, starting for just the third time at the position in the majors.
Justin Turner is the designated hitter on Saturday, with Logan Forsythe at third base and Chase Utley starting at second.
This is Turner’s fifth start at DH this season. He is 6-for-16 (.375) with a double, two walks, and a hit by pitch as the designated hitter this season, while all other Dodgers combined are 1-for-16 with a hit by pitch and a sacrifice fly at the position in 2017.
Adrian Gonzalez bats seventh for a second consecutive game, at first base. Manager Dave Roberts said on Friday that Gonzalez would be the designated hitter in Sunday’s series finale.