When the Los Angeles Dodgers re-signed Chase Utley during the offseason it was under the expectation he’d fill a reduced role off the bench. In similar fashion to 2016, Utley has found himself factoring more prominently into the team’s plans.
An injury to Logan Forsythe created an opportunity for Utley, and so too did Adrian Gonzalez’s first career stint on the disabled list. While Gonzalez has since returned, Forsythe remains sidelined. He is expected to be activated off the DL Tuesday.
But the Dodgers are now without Justin Turner, and the team intends to primarily play Forsythe at third base. That will leave Chris Taylor and Utley to share duties at second base.
Taylor and Utley were both in Sunday’s lineup; Utley started at second base and Taylor at third. The 38-year-old made a terrific diving stop and throw in the third inning to rob Marlins shortstop J.T. Riddle of a hit.
Utley’s play preserved Brandon McCarthy’s perfect game at the time. McCarthy eventually lost it in the fifth inning on a Derek Dietrich two-out slicing double to left field.
While Utley is in his 15th season, he’s consistently shown flashes of having spry legs, whether defensively or running the bases.
