Dodgers spring training 2015: Lineups, pregame notes vs. Padres.

A couple pregame notes from Camelback Ranch:

1. Two days after throwing his last bullpen session, Brandon League told reporters that he’ll undergo an MRI on his right shoulder. In all likelihood he will begin the season on the disabled list. That brings the unofficial tally of disabled Dodgers to four: League (15-day DL), Hyun-Jin Ryu (15); pitchers Brandon Beachy and Chris Withrow are both on the 60-day DL.

2. Matt Kemp is not in the Padres’ lineup today.

3. The Dodgers were one of five teams (along with the Diamondbacks, Blue Jays, Tigers and Phillies) that lost money last year, according to Forbes.

4. Juan Nicasio is starting this “bullpen game,” but the Dodgers still see him as a reliever. This is not, by all accounts, an attempt to stretch him out as a starter.

Here are both lineups for the 1 p.m. game at Camelback Ranch:
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Dodgers spring training 2015: Contracts signed, and identifying The Story of camp.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Someone asked me today what (or who) is the “story of camp.” There might be a few contenders, and I’ll get to those in a minute.

Something every club is trying to square away this time of year is its contracts with players who have 0 to 3 years’ service time. I’m told the Dodgers have finalized those, though I’m not sure when the ink dried on the last of them.

Seventeen players on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster fall into this group:

Yasmani Grandal, Paco Rodriguez, Scott Van Slyke, Chris Hatcher, Chris Withrow, Pedro Baez, Austin Barnes, Mike Bolsinger, Daniel Coulombe, Carlos Frias, Yimi Garcia, Kike Hernandez, Zach Lee, Adam Liberatore, Joc Pederson, Chris Reed and Scott Schebler.

They’re all under contract now. This isn’t the story of camp, but it’s something we get to report this time every year.

So what is the story of camp? Here are the early contenders:
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Juan Uribe is here, and other early-morning notes.

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Pitcher Zack Greinke received a “lubricating injection” in his right elbow and is expected to be back on his normal routine soon.

Pitcher Sergio Santos, who was sent home yesterday due to illness, is back. So is third baseman Juan Uribe, who rolled into camp in a massive Hummer four days ahead of the mandatory reporting date for position players:

I caught up with pitcher Chris Withrow, who’s been here since Feb. 10 rehabbing from surgery on a herniated disk in December. Back in January at FanFest, Withrow said there was no timetable for him to resume throwing. He’s throwing now but with many restrictions: from his knees, from a short distance, and not exerting himself. “Just to get my shoulder moving,” he said.

Don Mattingly is about to address the media.

Dodgers pitcher Chris Withrow doesn’t have a timetable to begin throwing.

Chris Withrow had a rough 2014. He had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in June and surgery on the herniated L5/S1 vertebrae in his back in December. The original 12-18 month timetable for his recovery is still intact, he said — the back surgery won’t push back his recovery — but he still hasn’t begun to throw.

“I honestly can’t tell you when I’ll start throwing, either,” Withrow said. “I’ll come out to Arizona the 10th of February. The doctor has it laid out day by day, as to what you’re capable of doing. Once I pass the test then I’ll be able to move on to the next step. I kind of gave up on the fact of looking ahead so far in advance, because you lose focus on that day that you really need to focus on. So I take it a day at a time, try to accomplish what I need to accomplish that day and look forward two weeks or two months.”

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Carlos Frias could force Dodgers to re-think middle innings in October.

Carlos Frias

Carlos Frias shut out the Washington Nationals for six innings in his first major-league start Wednesday. (Michael Owen Baker/Staff photographer)


Call it rational thought, but when Carlos Frias arrived in the Dodgers’ clubhouse in August, the tendency was to force the rookie pitcher into a limited array of roles.

Emergency spot starter.

Long reliever, preferably during an inconsequential blowout.

That’s what happens to 24-year-old rookies who had never pitched above Double-A baseball prior to the current year, who had an ERA in the fives during his first Triple-A season, right?
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