Brewers @ Dodgers June 16, 2016: Home sweet home

The Dodgers return after a 3-3 road trip to San Francisco and Arizona to host the Brewers in a 4-game set. Scott Kazmir is first up for the Dodgers as he opposes Junior Guerra.

Brewers
Dodgers
7:10 p.m. PT
Los Angeles
SS
Villar
2B Utley
3B
Hill
 SS Seager
LF
Braun
LF
Thompson
C
Lucory
1B
Gonzalez
1B
Carter
3B
Kendrick
RF
Perez
CF
Pederson
2B
Gennett C Grandal
CF
Broxton
RF
Venable
P
Guerra (R)
P
Kazmir (L)

The lineup has a different look tonight. Justin Turner is getting the night off, which means Trayce Thompson moves into the 3-hole. Howie Kendrick is playing the hot corner tonight. Adrian Gonzalez is back in the cleanup spot. Boy it’d be nice if these proven veterans would start hitting. Also, Will Venable is making his first start for the Dodgers, because after Scott Van Slyke hit a 3-run home run yesterday, he just needs yet another day off. But I digress.

The Brewers boast a pretty decent 3-5 in Ryan Braun, (future Dodger) Jonathan Lucroy and Chris Carter. But the biggest surprise has been at the top with Jonathan Villar. He has been a revelation, hitting .300/.390/.430. His defense isn’t great at shortstop, but he has been the 6th-best shortstop in baseball in terms of wRC+ (121).

Dave Roberts has an update on Julio Urias:

 

Still wish they weren’t insistent on limiting his innings. I could see Urias getting on a roll in the majors and having it interrupted because of an innings limit. Maybe if they didn’t coddle him so much the last two seasons…

Also, this:

That is good news. Throwing Urias out of the bullpen at this point doesn’t make much sense. At least it’ll probably be Frankie Montas taking Urias’ spot in the rotation, which is exciting.

The Dodgers also signed their 1st-round draft pick today in Gavin Lux.

He signed for literally $700 over slot. Not $700,000 … $700. Baseball contracts are funny sometimes.

And from the kid himself:

https://twitter.com/TheRealGavinLux/status/743607239265509376

He’s in Arizona, so it’s safe to assume he’ll begin his career with the AZL Dodgers, as most prep players do. Chad will have the first post on draft signings at some point soon.

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About Dustin Nosler

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Dustin Nosler began writing about the Dodgers in July 2009 at his blog, Feelin' Kinda Blue. He co-hosted a weekly podcast with Jared Massey called Dugout Blues. He was a contributor/editor at The Hardball Times and True Blue LA. He graduated from California State University, Sacramento, with his bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in digital media. While at CSUS, he worked for the student-run newspaper The State Hornet for three years, culminating with a 1-year term as editor-in-chief. He resides in Stockton, Calif.