Javy Guerra gives the Dodgers six players who will be gone for anywhere between eight and 18 days for the World Baseball Classic. That doesn’t mean six minor-leaguers will get called up to take their place.

“What we’ll do,” Don Mattingly said after the Dodgers’ loss to the Seattle Mariners on Saturday, “is use the guys who are here for the most part.”

Some exceptions will be made.

Mattingly said he wanted to get a look at Scott Van Slyke at first base. Van Slyke didn’t do much in 54 major league at-bats last season, collecting nine hits and 14 strikeouts. But the manager has been underwhelmed by Dallas McPherson‘s defense at first base (“it’s not been great for me” were Mattingly’s exact words) and might be looking for a new emergency first baseman if Adrian Gonzalez gets injured. Word is that Van Slyke has slimmed down since last season.

Van Slyke was in the Dodgers’ major-league camp a year ago but was removed from the 40-man roster in December.