SAN FRANCISCO >> Hanley Ramirez and Yasiel Puig are in the Dodgers’ starting lineup for the first time since Saturday.
The pain in their injured left hands had subsided enough to allow both players to take batting practice Friday at AT&T Park.
“Yasiel the other day, we were cautious with him in Pittsburgh,” Mattingly said. “He pinch hit so we knew he was ready. Hanley, we were hoping today. He came in feeling good, so that extra day give him a better chance to be healthy.”
Ramirez is batting fourth and playing shortstop. Puig is starting in center field for the first time all season after playing only one inning at the position prior to today — the ninth inning Wednesday in Pittsburgh.
“He’s played it before,” Mattingly said. “He played it in Toronto (last season) and he played it at home a little bit. It’s not his first time out there.”
When pressed, Mattingly emphasized that the defensive alignment of Carl Crawford in left field, Puig in center and Matt Kemp in right is the best he can field given the Dodgers’ current personnel.
“At this point, it’s what it is,” Mattingly said. “It could be a day, could be a week, could be forever. I don’t think we really know. We know (Puig) is physically capable of handling that spot.”
