Dodgers being careful with Kendrick

SAN FRANCISCO -- Dodgers second baseman Howie Kendrick is still experiencing tightness in his left hamstring and was replaced in the starting lineup for Monday night's opener against the Giants by veteran Chase Utley.

Manager Don Mattingly said Kendrick will still be in the playing mix, but it also sounded like he might be handled similar to third baseman Justin Turner, who requires extra days off to keep a tender knee from flaring up.

"Howie's just been a little bit not quite 100 percent," Mattingly said. "He's still having to play with a little bit of a governor. We'll keep trying it and moving him forward to be 100 percent, but that's one of the main factors tonight, that and a righty [Giants starter Jake Peavy] and with Chase you don't really mind that.

"It's just that he's having some tightness and [the hamstring] is not exactly where we want it. We'd rather him feel like he's good to go every day. It hasn't quite been like that. We're being a little protective. We're going to play Howie; he feels like he can go out there."

Kendrick missed 34 games from Aug. 10 to Sept. 18. Since he's returned, Kendrick is hitting .250 with five RBIs but no extra-base hits.

In other injury updates, Mattingly said Yasiel Puig is running at 80 percent and Jose Peraza at 90 percent as they rehab hamstring injuries in Arizona.

And Brandon McCarthy, who had Tommy John surgery in late April, began playing catch.