Dodgers 13, Rangers 6 … and a major endorsement of Jason Schmidt

Joe Torre admitted after the game that the fifth starter’s job is Schmidt’s to lose, and that if he continues to show that he is healthy and that he can be effective the rest of the spring, he’ll be the guy … apparently, even if Eric Milton continues to pitch the way he did today (three scoreless innings, two hits). … Juan Castro is now hitting .524 (11 for 21) after going 3 for 5 with a home run. Xavier Paul is now hitting .406 (13 for 32) after going 3 for 5 with a double and a triple. Going to be tough for him to make the club out of camp, especially if the Dodgers go with four OFs. But Torre said after the game that X clearly is a guy whose name will at least come to mind if the club needs to bring somebody up during the season. Chin-lung Hu had two hits today, as did Blake DeWitt. … Claudio Vargas got knocked around, giving up three home runs and four runs on six hits over 2 1/3. … Dodgers improve to 6-6. At home against the D-backs tomorrow, and then, on Wednesday … an off-day. A real, live, honest-to-goodness off-day, with no B game, no intrasquad, no simulated game, nobody throwing a bullpen and nobody taking live batting practice on the minor-league side. Joe Torre is my hero.