Dodgers starting lineups for Saturday doubleheader

GLENDALE -- The Dodgers begin their Saturday gauntlet today, the first of three straight Saturdays with wall-to-wall baseball, with a split-squad, day-night doubleheader.

The first game is a road contest in Surprise against the Rangers, with Paul Maholm starting for the Dodgers and Tanner Scheppers starting for Texas. Seth Rosin is also expected to pitch for the Dodgers in Surprise, as is Carlos Frias. Minor leaguer pitchers also traveling today are Steve Edelfsen, recently signed from the Dodgers open tryout, Justin Souza, Sam Demel and Henry Sosa.

In the nightcap, Josh Beckett gets the start for the Dodgers, against Blake Beavan for the Mariners.

The Saturday gauntlet continues next week with a pair of games at Camelback Ranch: a day game against the Padres and a night "road" game against the White Sox. March 22 is a Saturday gauntlet of sorts, at least in the Pacific time zone, as the Dodgers' two games in Australia against the Diamondbacks are at 1 a.m. and 7 p.m. PT.

The other pitchers weren't listed on the lineup sheets for today, but among those who would be on turn to throw on Saturday would be Jose Dominguez, Paco Rodriguez and Red Patterson. I would expect several pitchers up from the minor league side as well, at least in uniform if not to pitch.

Yasiel Puig is out for the Dodgers for both games Saturday, excused by the team on Friday to leave camp for a personal matter. He is expected back in camp, and in the lineup, on Sunday. This morning Don Mattingly confirmed that the team has "known about it since the beginning of camp" and that he had no concerns about the absence.

Joc Pederson is the only Dodger scheduled to start both games, but several are scheduled to play both. Alex Guerrero and Clint Robinson are both playing in reserve in the day game and starting the night game. Brendan Harris and Mike Baxter are both starting the day game and playing in reserve in the night game. Miguel Rojas is scheduled to enter both games as a reserve.

On the injury recovery front, Mattingly said that Zack Greinke is "throwing to hitters after batting practice [this morning]." The right-hander will be limited to "35 [pitches], and will definitely get up and down"; the latter part meaning simulating an inning break. Matt Kemp is scheduled to be one of the hitters to face Greinke.

UPDATE: Greinke pitched two simulated innings this morning, to both Kemp and left-hand hitting Scott Schebler who alternated at-bats, tossing about 35 pitches, after throwing 50 pitches in the bullpen. Afterwards Greinke said he felt happy with the throwing although the calf was still not 100%.

Additionally for Kemp, the Dodgers manager stated that the centerfielder "will be taking fly balls today in the outfield [during batting practice] with limited range but in all directions." Also per Mattingly, Kemp will be "running the bases again today, at least straight lines, maybe introduce ... one slight turn around the bases" as part of the rehabilitation plan managed by Stan Conte, the Dodgers Vice President of Medical Services.

There is no television broadcast of the first game, but Rick Monday will call the game for KLAC and the Dodgers radio network. In the night game, Charley Steiner and Orel Hershiser will call the game on TV for SportsNet LA. There is no English radio for the night game, but Jaime Jarrin, Pepe Yniguez and Fernando Valenzuela will call the game in Spanish for KTNQ.