Scooter Gennett in left field for Brewers game vs. UWM

PHOENIX - The Milwaukee Brewers play their first game of the spring at 2:05 this afternoon, as they host the UW-Milwaukee Panthers at Maryvale Baseball Park.

Here is today's lineup:

Gennett playing left is, of course, part of the plan to try to turn him into a utility man with Jonathan Villar now the starter at second base.

"This is part of it," manager Craig Counsell said. "These games don't count. You want to see what they can do. He'll play left field, he'll play third base. The first week, that's where you'll see him. You won't see him at second base to start out. When we kind of get further he'll get back to second base a little bit."

As for Ryan Braun, he's healthy but don't expect to see him in the lineup anytime soon.

"You won't see him this week," Counsell said. "We know Ryan doesn't need a lot of at-bats so you're not going to see him for awhile. He's healthy. I think it's safe to say (he's out), at least until the WBC and I think it will be after that, even."

Counsell said Hernan Perez would start in left tomorrow in the Brewers' Cactus League opener against the Angels in Tempe as he ramps up his preparations for the WBC.

Be sure to check back after the game for Gennett's comments, as well as for a wrapup of the game. We'll also launch our season-long "Brewers Live" blog featuring tweets from me and my colleague Tom Haudricourt.