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Chris Taylor returns to Dodgers lineup

Taylor makes first start since Tuesday

Los Angeles Dodgers defeat the the Colorado Rockies 7-0. Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images

Sunday night marks the seventh game in 10 days between the Dodgers and Padres, but get your fix in tonight since these two teams won’t meet again for the next eight weeks.

The next series between the Dodgers and Padres is June 21-23 at Petco Park in San Diego, but before we get to that we have to get through Sunday night at Dodger Stadium first.

Chris Taylor, who had the Dodgers’ first pinch hit of the season on Saturday night in the sixth inning, is back in the starting lineup for the first time since Tuesday in Seattle. Taylor missed the first two games of the Padres series with lower back stiffness.

Dodgers-Padres lineups

Pos Padres Pos Dodgers
Pos Padres Pos Dodgers
SS Tatis Jr. CF Betts
CF Grisham (L) SS Seager (L)
3B Machado 3B Turner
1B Hosmer (L) 1B Muncy (L)
2B Cronenworth (L) 2B Taylor
LF Pham LF Beaty (L)
RF Profar (S) RF Raley (L)
C Caratini (S) C Barnes
P Musgrove P May

After pinch hitting on Saturday, Taylor played the final three innings on defense, first in center field, then at second base, and back to center field. Taylor starts at second base Sunday, his fourth start at the position this season. He’s also started games in center field, left field, right field, and shortstop this season.

Bullpen notes

Dave Roberts said Kenley Jansen, who threw 23 pitches in recording four outs on Saturday, would be unavailable on Sunday, and Scott Alexander would probably not be used in the series finale. But Blake Treinen, who pitched in parts of two innings Saturday and threw 21 pitches, is available. If used, Treinen would be used for the third time in four days, something the Dodgers have only done four times this season.

Seventeen times this season a Dodgers reliever has thrown 20 or more pitches in a game, and none of the first 15 (prior to Jansen and Treinen last night) pitched the next day. Only two of those relievers — Jimmy Nelson on April 17, and Dennis Santana on April 19 — pitched on one day rest. Everyone else got at least two days of rest after throwing 20-plus pitches.

Brusdar Graterol, who last pitched last Sunday, is almost certain to see action in this one.

“The starters have been going deep, so it just hasn’t allowed for him to be in there,” Roberts said. “But tonight, I expect him to pitch.”

Dennis Santana is feeling better, and will likely be activated from the injured list either before Sunday’s game, or on Monday.

Game info

Teams: Dodgers vs. Padres

Location: Dodger Stadium

Time: 4:08 p.m. PT

TV: ESPN, ESPN2