Dodgers spring training 2013: Sorting out the starting rotation

One of the the recurring questions of spring training has been trying to find out the plan for the Dodgers' eight starting pitchers, especially if all are healthy. Mattingly made a point when asked about Ted Lilly possibly pitching in relief that is was too early for such talk.

"We're really looking at all these guys like starters," Mattingly said.

But Mattingly went on to reveal that he didn't see Lilly as a prime relief candidate should it come to that.

"Teddy, he seems a lot more like Aaron (Harang) to me, from my point of view," Mattingly said. "Taking longer to get loose, taking longer to warm up, all that kind of stuff."

So if you are keeping track, Mattingly has said this spring that he doesn't view Josh Beckett, Harang, nor Lilly as relievers. The team has said they are looking at Hyun-jin Ryu as a starter, and of course Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke wouldn't be moved to the bullpen. So that leaves Chad Billingsley and Chris Capuano as the only viable relief options among the eight starters, assuming a universe with no injuries.

But in reality, the rotation now is likely what it has always been thought to be: Kershaw, Greinke, Billingsley, Beckett, and Ryu, with the other three not cracking the top five without an injury of some sort. But, as we have noted several times in this early going, there are still 32 days until opening day, which is a relative eternity to sort all of this out.