Dave Roberts not ready to name Dodgers opening day starter yet

The Dodgers are back home to battle the Diamondbacks, and the starting pitcher schedule for the next three days sure looks like how the team might begin the regular season. Clayton Kershaw pitches Wednesday, followed by Trevor Bauer against Seattle on Thursday and Walker Buehler on Friday at Goodyear against Cleveland.

But manager Dave Roberts isn’t ready to reveal his opening day plans just yet.

“Obviously there’s three guys we’d probably consider, but we’re just not ready to name the guy yet,” Roberts said on Wednesday. “We’re still talking through some things.”

Kershaw has started a Dodgers-record eight opening days on the mound, though began each of the last two seasons on the injured list. Bauer is the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, and Buehler has started four of the Dodgers’ five Games 1 in the last two postseasons.

Should this trio remain in their current order to start the season, it’s likely the third-game pitcher would also be in line to start the home opener on April 9 against the Nationals, the Dodgers’ eighth game of the season.

“We have two off days coming, so we can do what we want. There’s still some flexibility,” Roberts said. “It’s just the way [pitching coach] Mark [Prior] put it together right now.”

The Dodgers are off this Saturday, then again on March 24. They Dodgers open the regular season on April 1 against the Rockies at Coors Field in Denver.

Also available to pitch in Wednesday’s eight-inning game for the Dodgers are Kenley Jansen, Blake Treinen, Victor Gonzalez, Dennis Santana, Garrett Cleavinger, and Gerardo Carrillo.

Game info

Teams: D-backs at Dodgers

Location: Camelback Ranch

Time: 5:05 p.m. PT

TV: SportsNet LA