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Cody Bellinger is back at first base as expected for the Dodgers on Wednesday night against the Diamondbacks, after missing nine games with a right ankle sprain.
Bellinger was activated from the 10-day disabled list before the middle game of the series, the first day he was eligible to return. He suffered an mild ankle sprain making a catch on Aug. 19 in Detroit, starting in right field for the third time this season. Bellinger has also started 58 games at first base and 35 games in left field in his rookie campaign.
Starting lineups
| Pos | Dodgers | Pos | D-backs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Dodgers | Pos | D-backs |
| CF | Taylor | LF | Peralta (L) |
| SS | Hernandez | 3B | Rosales |
| 3B | Turner | CF | Pollock |
| 1B | Bellinger (L) | 1B | Goldschmidt |
| 2B | Forsythe | RF | Martinez |
| RF | Puig | 2B | Drury |
| C | Barnes | SS | Marte (S) |
| LF | Granderson (L) | C | Herrmann (L) |
| P | Ryu | P | Ray (L) |
Adrian Gonzalez since returning from his 55-game stint on the DL with a herniated disc has started 10 of 11 games at first base, but his playing time figures to decrease with Bellinger’s return.
“I see Adrian in there at times vs. right-handed pitching, but to say Adrian's going to play vs. every right-hander I don't know if that's the case," manager Dave Roberts told reporters on Tuesday.
Gonzalez is 8-for-42 with a home run and three doubles since his return, hitting .190/.222/.333. He exited Sunday’s game in the seventh inning with tightness in his back, but played on Tuesday in the series opener in Phoenix.
Bellinger, hitting .270/.333/.533 against left-handers this season, hasn’t yet faced Diamondbacks starter Robbie Ray, but the Dodgers’ usual contingent against southpaws have.
Kiké Hernandez is 7-for-20 (.350) with three home runs, a triple, a double, and four walks against Ray, including two home runs this season. He starts again at shortstop on Wednesday with Corey Seager still managing a sore right elbow.
Austin Barnes, 2-for-6 (.333) with two doubles and five walks (.636 on-base percentage) against Ray, starts at catcher. Chris Taylor is 6-for-10 (.600) with two doubles and a walk against Ray.
Curtis Granderson bats eighth against the left-hander Ray, the sixth different position in the batting order for the outfielder in 10 starts as a Dodger.