For the first time in over a decade, Jon Garland will be on the disabled list. The Dodgers' starter, who left yesterday's game in the second inning with an injury to his side, has been diagnosed with a strained left oblique, and is expected to miss at least four to six weeks. Garland, who has made 32 or 33 starts in each of the last nine seasons, uttered a quote that is never a good sign, per Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
"Last night I sneezed and it hurt pretty bad," he said. "I have to give it time to let it heal."
Gurnick also reported that "Garland said he was told his tear wasn't major or minor, but somewhere in between." Candidates to replace Garland as fifth starter in April are John Ely and Tim Redding. Redding is a non-roster invitee to camp, and would have to be added to the 40-man roster were he to make the team. With two off days in the first week of the season, the Dodgers don't need a fifth starter until April 12, so they can have an extra bench player for the first 10 games if they so choose, waiting to promote Ely or Redding until needed.
For today's game, the Dodgers host the Padres at Camelback Ranch. Planned opening day starter Clayton Kershaw makes his third spring start today. Here is the Dodgers lineup:
Furcal SS
Blake 3B
Ethier RF
Uribe 2B
Loney 1B
Thames LF
Navarro C
Barajas DH
Robinson CF
Today's 12:05 p.m. PST game will be televised on Prime Ticket.
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