Yasiel Puig to bat leadoff for Dodgers on opening day
SYDNEY, Australia -- With left-hander Wade Miley pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks on opening day, Justin Turner will start in place of Dee Gordon at second base for the Dodgers on Saturday at Sydney Cricket Ground.
Turner bats right-handed and Gordon left-handed.
Right fielder Yasiel Puig will bat leadoff, according to Manager Don Mattingly. Puig will be followed, in order, by Turner, shortstop Hanley Ramirez, Gonzalez, left fielder Scott Van Slyke, third baseman Juan Uribe, center fielder Andre Ethier, catcher A.J. Ellis and pitcher Clayton Kershaw.
Mattingly said Friday he expected Adrian Gonzalez to be able to play Saturday, even though Gonzalez was removed early from an exhibition game Thursday because of tightness in his back.
“I’m expecting him to go tomorrow,” Mattingly said.
Gonzalez didn’t take batting practice on the field with his teammates Friday.
Gonzalez played in a team-high 157 games last season.
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