Zack Greinke resumes throwing, opening day remains in doubt

Zack Greinke resumed throwing for the Dodgers on Friday, throwing a remarkably specific 63 pitches per Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. The throwing session appeared to go well, per reports from Gurnick and Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times, who witnessed Greinke playing catch.

"It was pretty good," Greinke told Gurnick. "I don't think anyone was anticipating it not going good. As expected."

Greinke will play catch again Saturday, per Hernandez, but the timetable pretty much remains the same.

Even in a best case scenario for Greinke, he will throw a bullpen session by mid next week, which still only leaves time for two more spring training starts. For someone who has yet to surpass three innings in any one start, that isn't enough time to get built up for the season.

"Getting four innings doesn't do us any good. That just taxes us. It means you have to get five out of your bullpen, then go the next day. Until he's ready to actually be able to throw like everybody else who is leaving spring training, like Kersh and those guys, he's going to have to be at that level," said manager Don Mattingly. "I don't want him behind the 8-ball starting the season."

The Dodgers don't actually need a fifth starter until Apr. 13, their 11th game of the season. Greinke could conceivably start on the disabled list with a retroactive date as many as 10 days prior to opening day, so that gives the Dodgers some extra time and maneuverability in plotting Greinke's first regular season start as a Dodger.

Notes

• Aaron Harang got hit hard in the early game on Friday, as he allowed five runs on six hits in four innings in an 8-7 loss to the Padres. In nine innings this spring, Harang has allowed 17 hits, 11 runs, 10 earned, five walks, and four strikeouts.
• Justin Sellers was scratched from the lineup Friday night, still feeling the effects of a sprained ankle suffered during workouts on Thursday. Brian Barden starts at third base in place of Sellers, with Elian Herrera moving from third base to center field, and Alfredo Amezaga moving from center field to shortstop.
• Scheduled to pitch after Stephen Fife for the Dodgers are Josh Wall, Kenley Jansen, Peter Moylan, and Paco Rodriguez.
• Players in uniform from the minor league side for the Dodgers on Friday night are pitchers Kelvin De La Cruz and Ryan Acosta; catcher Griff Erickson, infielders Barden, Nick Evans, Darnell Sweeney, Rusty Ryal, Miguel Rojas, O'Koyea Dickson, and Elevys Gonzalez; and outfielder Nick Buss. The Dodgers took Gonzalez in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft from the Pirates in December.
• Scheduled to pitch for the Royals after Yordano Ventura on Friday night are Everett Teaford, Donnie Joseph, Brian Sanches, and Blaine Boyer.

Game info

Time: 7:05 p.m. PT

TV: none, but webcast on Dodgers.com

Radio: none

MLB Gameday