Ted Lilly Improving, But Still Will Miss Tuesday Start

Ted Lilly will not make his scheduled start for the Dodgers on Tuesday, as he is still suffering from a stiff neck that has kept him out of action for two days. However, Lilly did report improvement in his neck on Monday, which is a good sign with the regular season just 10 days away.

"He feels a little better today, but he's still not where he wants to be," manager Don Mattingly said on Monday morning.

Lilly will participate in workouts today and will play catch, but is status for the opening day roster is still in question. Mattingly said he is no rush to make a decision as Lilly could improve over the next few days. A decision on what next to do with Lilly will likely come Friday, as the Dodgers need to plan for either Lilly or someone else to start on April 2 in Anaheim against the Angels.

Lilly's availability to pitch, or lack thereof, next Monday will affect the order of the starting rotation and possibly the structure of the opening day roster.

As for Tuesday's spring start, the Dodgers will likely make it a bullpen game with relievers in major league camp pitching five or six innings, and pitchers from the minor league side pitching the remaining innings.
"We've got plenty of guys that need work tomorrow," Mattingly said.

Notes

• Justin Sellers, who missed two days with a skin rash, is available to play today and will likely see time as a reserve in today's game.
• Both James Loney and Tony Gwynn Jr. will be designated hitters in a minor league game today at Camelback Ranch.
• Matt Guerrier will pitch in a minor league game today as well.
• Adam Kennedy, who suffered a slight right groin pull on Sunday, did not participate in workouts today and won't play on Tuesday either. Mattingly said Kennedy was going to be off for two days anyway, in terms of availability to play in the major league game, but the planned minor league game on Tuesday for Kennedy won't happen. Mattingly said Kennedy feels okay today but that he is being rested as a precaution.
  
• I was late to the party on this but the much-discussed ESPN Magazine cover with Clayton Kershaw and Tim Lincecum had an article accompanying it, written by Tim Keown, about the duels between the two aces last year. Spoiler alert: Kershaw won all four games.

Season Preview

For those of you in the Los Angeles area with Time Warner Cable, the Dodgers on Demand channel will be running a Dodgers season preview beginning Tuesday night at 7 p.m. PDT. As part of the preview, I talked about the Dodgers' starting pitching. If you want to see my face made for radio, or perhaps more insight from Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times or Tony Jackson of ESPN LA as well as the Time Warner crew of Tony Kinkela, Jessica Rosales, and Polo Ascencio, be sure to tune in either on demand beginning tomorrow or at these times on SoCal Channel 101:

• March 27, 7 p.m.
• April 1, 8:30 p.m.
• April 3, 7 p.m.
• April 4, 11:30 p.m.
  

Today's Game

Chad Billingsley starts for the Dodgers today as they face the White Sox in a designated home game for the Dodgers. John Danks starts for Chicago.

Also scheduled to pitch for the Dodgers on Monday are Scott Elbert, Javy Guerra, Ronald Belisario, and Jamey Wright.

Starting Lineups

Mark Ellis was a late scratch to the starting lineup due to illness. Jerry Hairston Jr. will bat second today in place of Ellis and will play second base for the first time all spring.

Game Time: 1:05 p.m. PDT

TV: Prime Ticket (Charley Steiner & Rick Monday); also the free game of the day on MLBtv

Radio: None

MLB Gameday