Both the Dodgers and Angels opened their spring training schedules on Saturday, as the two teams met at Tempe Diablo Stadium. The Angels won 4-1 in that first encounter, one of four meetings between the two teams this exhibition season, but today is the Dodgers' turn to play host. The Dodgers play their first game at Camelback Ranch this year in what is also the first televised game of spring training.
The Dodgers played two games yesterday, sending split squads to both Tempe and Scottsdale. Regulars Rafael Furcal, Casey Blake, and Juan Uribe stayed behind at Camelback Ranch yesterday, but all three will make their spring debuts today, as they are in the Dodgers starting lineup. Today looks pretty much like the lineup the Dodgers will use on opening day at Dodger Stadium, minus the designated hitter of course, and likely with the left-handed Jay Gibbons in left field over Marcus Thames:
Furcal SS
Blake 3B
Ethier RF
Kemp CF
Uribe 2B
Loney 1B
Thames LF
Gimenez DH
Barajas C
Gibbons is out for the second straight day with the flu, writes Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. John Ely, who started 18 games for the Dodgers last season, will start on the mound today for the Dodgers, and be followed by Blake Hawksworth, Mike MacDougal, Ramon Troncoso, Kenley Jansen, and Jon Link.
Scott Kazmir will start for the Angels today. Also scheduled to pitch are Fernando Rodney, Francisco Rodriguez, Rich Thompson, and Trevor Reckling. Today's 12:05 p.m. PST game will be televised on Prime Ticket and MLB Network.
For more news and information on today's game, be sure to read True Blue LA and Halos Heaven.