Superstar slugger Manny Machado will be in the Dodgers' starting lineup tonight as Los Angeles opens the second half of the season, according to general manager Farhan Zaidi. The Dodgers play the Brewers in the first of a three-game weekend series at Miller Park, with first pitch scheduled for 5:10 p.m. PT.
The newest Dodger -- acquired Wednesday in a blockbuster trade with the Orioles that sent five prospects to Baltimore, including three of the Dodgers' top 30 prospects per MLB Pipeline -- will wear No. 8 as he makes his Dodgers debut. The No. 13, which Machado wore throughout his six-plus seasons with Baltimore, is currently worn by Player Page for Max Muncy.
Machado will likely start at shortstop, which will probably be his primary position with the Dodgers since the club is without Corey Seager for the season due to Tommy John surgery. But with third baseman Justin Turner missing the final four games prior to the All-Star break with a tight adductor, Machado could make his Dodgers debut at third base. The Dodgers have utilized several players flexibly on defense, including Chris Taylor, who has played shortstop in Seager's absence. And Zaidi said Thursday that Machado could be utilized in a similar fashion.
"He's going to move around, like a lot of our guys do," said Zaidi. "[Manager] Dave Roberts has already spoken to him about how much we value flexibility. We pointed out that every position player on our roster has played multiple positions. Manny being willing to move between shortstop and third, we believe he can be an asset at both positions. It's less about evaluating Manny at those positions and more about giving [Roberts] options. He understands the way we manage the roster. He's told us he wants to do whatever he can to help this team succeed and win. So, he's on board."
Machado primarily hit third in the batting order for the Orioles this season, with a few games in which he batted second in the lineup. He will likely hit either second or third in the lineup for the Dodgers -- Seager usually hit second when he was healthy.
The Brewers, opening the second half neck-and-neck with the Cubs atop the National League Central, are scheduled to have left-hander Wade Miley take the mound in the series opener. In 11 career plate appearances against Miley, Machado is 3-for-9 with a solo home run and two walks. The homer came off Miley while he was pitching for the Red Sox on June 11, 2015 at Camden Yards. It was a 415-foot shot to left-center field with an exit velocity of 103.1 mph, per Statcast™.