Howie Kendrick, Yasmani Grandal begin rehab assignments Thursday

LOS ANGELES -- Thursday is minor league opening day, and that gives the Dodgers a few locations to play for their two injured players closest to returning. Howie Kendrick will be in the lineup on Thursday night for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga, while catcher Yasmani Grandal is in Nashville with Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Both are expected to be ready by Tuesday's home opener, per Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who had said on Wednesday that both would play in simulated games. But having Kendrick and Grandal in actual competitive minor league games, especially Kendrick, gets them closer to a return and makes Tuesday's target date more believable.

Kendrick will be the designated hitter on Thursday night, per the Quakes, and per Roberts will play third and second base through the weekend, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.

Grandal catches and bats second for OKC on Thursday night, per OKC broadcaster Alex Freedman.

Alex Guerrero, dealing with left knee soreness, still hasn't been cleared for baseball activity, per Andy McCullough of the LA Times.

Game info

4:35 p.m. - Oklahoma City at Nashville (listen here)

7:05 p.m. - Lake Elsinore at Rancho Cucamonga (listen here)