GLENDALE -- Yasiel Puig is back in camp, and back in the lineup as the Dodgers host the Giants at Camelback Ranch on Sunday afternoon.
Puig left camp Friday morning for personal reasons, an absence excused by the team. Manager Don Mattingly declined to elaborate on the reason why Puig was away.
"It was personal. It was never a problem and was talked about before," Mattingly said. "This is not an issue in any way shape, or form."
Puig is batting third for the Dodgers, playing right field.
Scheduled backups for the Dodgers on Sunday include Joc Pederson in center field, Dee Gordon at second base, Drew Butera behind the plate, Scott Van Slyke at first base, and Brendan Harris at shortstop.
Clayton Kershaw, anointed earlier Sunday as the Opening Day starter for the fourth straight season, makes his third Cactus League start today. He is expected to throw roughly 75 pitches. He will also bat, the first Dodgers pitcher to do so this spring. Dodgers pitchers will hit for the remainder of the Cactus League, though Mattingly said he would allow American League teams to use the designated hitter if they choose.
Following him on the mound will be Javy Guerra and Red Patterson. Also suiting up from the minor league side for the Dodgers on Sunday are pitchers Steve Edlefsen (No. 83) and Justin Souza (88).
Corey Seager suits up with the Dodgers for the first time this spring, wearing No. 91 today. He is joined by fellow minor leaguers Ozzie Martinez (87), Jeremy Hazelbaker (89), Scott Schebler (90) and Noel Cuevas (92).
Vin Scully is back at Camelback Ranch, calling today's game for SportsNet LA, the first of two straight Sunday games he will call.
Pablo Sandoval will be wearing uniform No. 97 for the Giants instead of his usual No. 48. The third baseman had a "uniform malfunction," per official announcement.
Table tennis title
In case you were wondering, the doubles ping pong tournament in the Dodgers clubhouse has concluded. Drew Butera and Brian Wilson defeated Clayton Kershaw and Chad Billingsley in a best-of-7 final to claim the championship. Butera was originally teammates with Ross Stripling, but had to switch after Stripling tore a ligament in his right elbow.
Butera originally switched to catcher Chris O'Brien as a teammate, but O'Brien was reassigned to minor league camp on March 4. Butera then chose Wilson, who closed the deal on the ping pong title. Stripling offered his congratulations:
Shoutout to @BrianWilson38 for filling in for me and closing the championship in the Doubles Ping Pong Tourny! Oh and @drewbutera helped too
— Ross Stripling (@RossStripling) March 9, 2014