D’Backs @ Dodgers Sept. 21, 2015: Chase Utley, Third Baseman

The last time Chase Utley played third base in a professional game was 13 years ago. Utley was 23, playing for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons. The starting third baseman for the Dodgers that year was Adrian Beltre, who had two more full seasons in blue before he hit free agency. The other two players who played third for the Dodgers in the last year where Utley played third were Dave Hansen and Jolbert Cabrera. So, yeah, it’s been awhile. And yet, there’s Utley, batting second and playing third base. Remember Alex Guerrero? Remember Juan Uribe? The end of this season is so weird. Maybe we’ll even get to see Austin Barnes get some time at the position too.

Justin Turner, the normal third baseman, is getting an MRI on his knee today. The Dodgers still haven’t said much on the cause or how serious they think the issues are. Jimmy Rollins and Enrique Hernandez are still a few days away, so this unusual infield alignment may last for awhile. Adrian Gonzalez is back in the lineup after missing Sunday’s game with back soreness. At a certain point, all of these weird minor injuries are going to compound into some real concern about the playoffs.

Brett Anderson is going tonight against the struggling Diamondbacks. Anderson has faded somewhat down the stretch, though his last start against the Rockies was one of his better ones since June. Anderson has been struggling to go deep into games since the start of August as well. In his last eight starts, he’s pitched into the seventh inning once. Luckily with September rosters, a short start following a Mike Bolsinger outing is less significant than it would have been earlier in the season. Instead, the Dodgers have more relievers than they know what to do with.