LOS ANGELES -- Andre Ethier returns to the starting lineup for the Dodgers for the first time in three games against the Padres on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. He is batting fifth and playing center field.
Ethier, who was out of the starting lineup the previous two games with general soreness, is 10-for-32 (.313) with two home runs and two doubles against Kennedy.
Ethier, a career .306/.384/.510 hitter against right-handed pitchers, is hitting just .262/.321/.402 against them this season, his worst OPS against right-handers since 2007 (.830).
Miguel Rojas starts again at shortstop in place of Hanley Ramirez, who had a cortisone shot in his right shoulder on Thursday.
The four Padres who have faced Paul Maholm more than 10 plate appearances are all in the lineup for San Diego. Chase Headley is 3-for-17 (.156) with a double and three walks against him, Chris Denorfia is 3-for-14 (.214) with a home run, a double and three walks. Cameron Maybin is 5-for-14 (.357) with a double and a triple, and Carlos Quentin is 3-for-7 (.429) with a double, two walks and two hit by pitch (a .636 on-base percentage).
Roster move
The Padres made a roster move before the game. San Diego optioned Jesse Hahn, Friday night's starting and winning pitcher, to Triple-A El Paso, and recalled infielder Jace Peterson from Triple-A. Peterson is 5-for-50 this season with the Padres, with one walk and 18 strikeouts.