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MESA -- The Dodgers rotation is set for the remainder of the Cactus League, all three days of it. Josh Beckett has been battling a sprained thumb but will make his scheduled start today against the Cubs at the brand new Cubs Park in Mesa. Clayton Kershaw will start the night game against the White Sox on Saturday night, the second of two games for the Dodgers on their penultimate day in Arizona.
Beckett is scheduled to throw roughly four innings or 65 pitches on Friday, and is going to try to mix in off speed pitches more today after being limited to only fastballs in his last start and bullpen session after injuring his thumb in the clubhouse doors. Manager Don Mattingly said Beckett at least for today would throw mostly fastball and changeup, but will mix in a few curve balls as well.
On Saturday the Dodgers will have Sam Demel up from the minor league side to start the day game against the Padres in sort of a bullpen game, with potentially several other minor leaguers pitching in that game as well. Kershaw will start the nightcap against the White Sox, his final tuneup before starting the opener in Australia on March 22.
Kershaw said the night game would put him on a later schedule, more in line with most starts during the season. His start against the Diamondbacks in Sydney will be even later, a 1 a.m. PDT start. In addition, by starting the night game Kershaw does get to sleep in on Saturday.
Hyun-jin Ryu starts the Dodgers' Cactus League finale on Sunday afternoon against the Rockies at Camelback Ranch.
Scheduled to pitch for the Dodgers on Friday in Mesa behind Beckett are Jose Dominguez, Paco Rodriguez, Javy Guerra, Chris Withrow and Jamey Wright.
Kyle Hendricks starts on the mound for Chicago.
Corey Seager is up from the minor league side today, and will wear number 90. Other Dodgers minor leaguers in Mesa include pitchers Steve Edlefsen (No. 83), Justin Souza (87) and Romulo Sanchez (97); catchers Chris O'Brien (70) and Jose Capellan (91), infielders Brendan Harris (35), Darnell Sweeney (84), O`Koyea Dickson (95) and Jamie Romak (96); and outfielders Jon Garcia (88) and Trayvon Robinson (89).