Dodgers spring training 2013: 7 pitchers on hand for opener

The Dodgers open their Cactus League schedule on Saturday afternoon against the White Sox, as the designated home team against their co-tenants from Chicago. Clayton Kershaw starts the opener for the Dodgers and is scheduled to pitch roughly two innings, but he is one of just seven pitchers slated to pitch for the Dodgers on Saturday.

Starting pitchers Matt Magill and Stephen Fife are also scheduled to throw Saturday after Kershaw, as are relief pitchers Mark Lowe, Ronald Belisario, Kelvin De La Cruz, and Gregory Infante.

Outfielders a Carl Crawford and Matt Kemp will miss at least the first week of games for the Dodgers, as each is recovering from offseason surgery. Manager Don Mattingly said Friday that Jerry Hairston Jr. would likely start in left field and Skip Schumaker in center field on Saturday. Yasiel Puig is also expected to play at some point on Saturday.

Schumaker is expected to play second base in addition to all three outfield spots this season, and during spring training.

"I'll move him around, and be back and forth with him," Mattingly said. "The program I've used with most guys is two on, one off. You play two days and get a day to work on your timing. We'll do the same with Skip for the most part, but we'll move him around a bit."

Mattingly said the catchers likely won't catch consecutive days in the first few games, so look for Tim Federowicz to start Sunday after starter A.J. Ellis gets the call on Saturday.

The starting position players for the most part will get two plate appearances in the early part of spring, but the trio of World Baseball Classic regulars (Luis Cruz, Adrian Gonzalez, and Hanley Ramirez) will probably get three plate appearances each.

Saturday's game is a 12:05 p.m. PT start, and will be broadcast on KLAC 570 AM. The game will not be televised.