Dodgers-Braves lineups announced for tonight’s game

Gosh, I hope Don Mattingly filled out his lineup card properly or else he’ll have to answer to Brian McCann:

Dodgers:

Carl Crawford LF
Mark Ellis 2B
Hanley Ramirez SS
Adrian Gonzalez 1B
Yasiel Puig RF
Juan Uribe 3B
Skip Schumaker CF
A.J. Ellis C
Clayton Kershaw P

Skip Schumaker in center, starting is not how the Dodgers would prefer it, but given that Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier are hurt, that’s life.

Braves:

Jason Heyward CF
Justin Upton RF
Freddie Freeman 1B
Evan Gattis LF
Brian McCann C
Chris Johnson 3B
Andrelton Simmons SS
Eliot Johnson 2B
Kris Medlen P

The offense-first lineup, with Gattis in left and B.J. Upton sent out to go get everyone pizza or something and ordered to stay out unless and until the Braves have a lead in late innings in which he may be allowed to play some defense.

Play ball.

Dodgers southpaw Clayton Kershaw is nearing his return to the mound, according to club manager Dave Roberts. Both Kershaw (left biceps tendinitis) and fellow lefty Rich Hill (left middle finger blister) are scheduled to toss simulated games on Saturday; depending on the outcome, Roberts says Kershaw could forgo a minor league assignment and slot back into the rotation by Thursday.

Kershaw, 30, was diagnosed with biceps tendinitis as the team closed out their Mexico Series at the start of the month. He has not made a start in several weeks, but was finally able to resume throwing on Sunday and managed to get through two successful bullpen sessions. Though Dodgers’ ace hasn’t been completely injury-free over his 11-year career in the majors, this is the first significant issue he’s had with his pitching arm so far. The team is expected to take every precaution with the lefty, and will likely limit him to just four innings during Saturday’s simulated game.

Prior to his injury, Kershaw was working on another dominant run with the club, sporting a 2.86 ERA, 2.0 BB/9 and 9.8 SO/9 through his first 44 innings of the season. While Kershaw, Hill and left-handed starter Hyun-Jin Ryu served their respective terms on the disabled list this month, the Dodgers utilized a combination of relievers Ross Stripling and Brock Stewart, both of whom impressed during their limited time in the rotation.