Dodgers at A’s, 7:05 p.m.
Kershaw CCXXXIII: Kershaw Me a Hero
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Kiké Hernandez, 2B
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Scott Van Slyke, LF
Yasiel Puig, RF
Alex Guerrero, DH
A.J. Ellis, C
Joc Pederson, CF
(Clayton Kershaw, P)

By Jon Weisman

It took a bit less than five months for my Spring Training prediction to come true.

With the Dodgers using the designated hitter tonight at Oakland, Joc Pederson is batting ninth — the seventh different batting slot he has started at in 2015.

Chronologically, here’s when he’s made his first appearance at each …

  • 1 – April 29
  • 2 – June 19
  • 3 –
  • 4 –
  • 5 – July 12
  • 6 – July 8
  • 7 – April 6
  • 8 – April 7
  • 9 – August 18

The chances of Pederson batting third or fourth this year seem pretty slim as long as Adrian Gonzalez is playing, because Gonzalez bats nowhere but third and fourth, and Don Mattingly isn’t likely to bat lefties Pederson and Gonzalez back-to-back, even once Pederson regains his form from earlier this year. However, it’s certainly possible, especially if the Dodgers were to clinch a division title before the end of the season.