Yasiel Puig will return to the lineup and bat leadoff Sunday against the Padres, Andy McCullough of the LA Times reports.

Puig will return to the lineup and bat leadoff Sunday against the Padres, Andy McCullough of the LA Times reports.

Analysis:

In the midst of a 5-for-39 slump, Puig was given the day off Saturday, but will return to a prominent spot in the batting order the very next day. Regular leadoff man Chase Utley will rest with a southpaw on the hill for the opposing Padres, but rather than roll with Enrique Hernandez atop the order (as manager Dave Roberts has done in the past), Puig will be called upon to get things going. A .313 OBP to start the 2016 season doesn't necessarily scream "leadoff man," but Puig does have two hits in three career at-bats against Pomeranz, potentially a sign of better things to come.