Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly confirmed on Saturday what had been hinted at but not yet formally announced, that Clayton Kershaw will also start the Dodgers' home opener on April 10 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, in addition to starting opening day on April 5 at Petco Park against the San Diego Padres.
If all goes according to plan, Kershaw will be the first Dodgers pitcher to start both opening day and the home opener since Tim Belcher in 1989. Orel Hershiser was the reigning Cy Young Award winner in 1989, like Kershaw this year, but had the flu in the final week of spring training and had his scheduled opening day start pushed back a few days, opening the door for Belcher.
Notes
Dodgers' outfield prospect Alfredo Silverio is still suffering from concussion symptoms six weeks after getting into a car accident on January 23 in the Dominican Republic. In addition to the concussion, Silverio also suffered injuries to his back, shoulder, elbow, and neck in the crash. There is no timetable for his return to baseball activities.
Mattingly likes what he sees in starting pitcher Chris Capuano, who signed a two-year contract with the Dodgers as a free agent this winter.
"This guy is extremely competitive, he's in great shape, and he really came on last year. We felt like late in the year he was throwing the ball well," Mattingly said of Capuano. "Sometimes with Tommy John, it takes a little bit of time to get your stuff back. He's always had good stuff. As much as anything, he knows how to pitch. He keeps you in a game, and that's really what we're asking him to do."
The Dodgers will have an eight-inning intrasquad game on Sunday, with four pitchers scheduled to pitch two innings each: Clayton Kershaw, Chris Capuano, Stephen Fife, and Will Savage.
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