Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 23/Road Game 13

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

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LOS ANGELES DODGERS (10-10-2) at Cleveland Indians (11-10-2)
Thursday, March 24, 2016 – 7:05 p.m. MT | Goodyear Ballpark
LHP Clayton Kershaw (2-0, 1.80) vs. RHP Trevor Bauer (1-0, 4.00)
TV: SNLA Radio: None

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(AGon's new cleat, pic via AGon on twitter)

A NEEDED DAY OFF: Following an off day yesterday, the Dodgers look to snap their seven-game losing streak as they face the Cleveland Indians tonight for the second time this spring. On Tuesday, Los Angeles fell to the World Champion Kansas City Royals, 3-1, at Surprise Stadium and is now 3-7-2 against American League clubs. Outfielder Rico Noel drove in the only run for the Dodgers, scoring Rob Segedin on a double to center field in the fifth inning. On the mound, starter Alex Wood allowed three runs on six hits in 4.0 innings of work and recorded his second loss of the spring. Louis Coleman (1.0 IP), Adam Liberatore (1.0), Pedro Baez (1.1) and Matt West (0.2) each tossed scoreless baseball for the Dodgers. Coleman has yet to allow a run in seven Cactus League appearances, striking out 10 and only allowing three hits in seven innings.

• The Dodgers are playing the Indians for the second time this spring, following an 8-5 loss on March 7 at Camelback Ranch. They will face Cleveland again on March 30 for the final game at Camelback Ranch before heading back to Los Angeles to face the Angels on March 31 and April 1 at Dodger Stadium.
• Los Angeles last faced the Indians during the regular season in 2014, when the Tribe took two of three at Dodger Stadium.

(Seager signing for Panini, pic via Panini)

SLOWLY BUT SURELY: Earlier today, shortstop Corey Seager appeared in a minor league game against the Royals. Seager, who sustained a mild knee sprain on March 12, went 0-for-4 and did not run or play the field.    

GKG!: On Saturday March 26, the Los Angeles Kings will host Dodgers Pride Night when they take on the Edmonton Oilers at 7:00 p.m. at Staples Center. Fans are invited to purchase a ticket package that includes a ticket to the game and a commemorative Dodgers Pride Night long-sleeve shirt that will be redeemed at the game. Visit www.lakings.com/dodgers for more details.

ON THE AIR: The Dodger game on Sunday, March 27 against the Cincinnati Reds will be heard on AM 1150 in Los Angeles instead of AM 570 due to a scheduling conflict.

ROSTER MOVES: On Monday, the Dodgers reassigned infielder Brandon Hicks, catcher Shawn Zarraga, outfielder Corey Brown and infielder/outfielder Cody Bellinger to minor league camp. The Dodgers now have 42 players in big-league camp, excluding Brandon McCarthy and Frankie Montas, who are on the 60-day DL.

TONIGHT’S PROBABLE PITCHERS:

• Three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw will make his fifth spring start this tonight, after tossing 5.0 innings Saturday against the White Sox. Kershaw will also be on the hill for the regular-season opener, April 4 at San Diego. The Opening Day nod will be Kershaw’s sixth consecutive Opening Day start, leaving him one shy of the Dodger franchise record (7), shared by Don Drysdale (1958-61, ’63, ’65, ‘69) and Don Sutton (1972-78). Fernando Valenzuela (1981, 1983-86, ’88) and William “Brickyard” Kennedy (1894-96, 1898-1900) are the only other members of the franchise to tally at least six Opening Day starts. 
• LHP J.P. Howell will pitch in his seventh game this spring, after tossing 0.2 of an inning Monday against Seattle. Howell finished the 2015 season with a 6-1 record with one save and tossed scoreless relief in 59 of 65 appearances.
• RHP Yimi Garcia will make his eighth appearance, last pitching Monday against the Mariners, tossing a scoreless 1.1 innings of relief. He ranked among the NL’s best relievers in WHIP (0.95, 5th), opponents’ batting average (.199, 16th), opponents’ on-base percentage (.242, 4th) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.60, 3rd).
• LHP Luis Avilan will appear in his seventh game of the spring, last pitching Monday against the Mariners. He combined to go 2-5 with a 4.05 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP in 73 relief appearances for the Braves and the Dodgers last season.
• RHP Kenley Jansen will make his seventh relief appearance, after most recently tossing a 1-2-3 inning Monday against the Mariners. Jansen enters his seventh big league season after successfully converting 36 of 38 save opportunities last year, the third- highest single-season save percentage in team history (Gagne: 2003-100.0%, 2004-95.7%).
• RHP Chris Hatcher will make his eighth Cactus League appearance, last pitching 0.2 of an inning Monday against Seattle. Hatcher went 3-5 with a 3.69 ERA in 49 games last year in his first season with the Dodgers, limiting opposing hitters to a .238 batting average and averaging better than a strikeout per inning.

(JT took in a Lakers game in Phoenix on Wednesday, pic via Lakers on twitter)

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