True Blue LA - Feb. 25: Mariners 2, Dodgers 0Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2018-02-25T15:19:56-08:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/168151232018-02-25T15:19:56-08:002018-02-25T15:19:56-08:00Clayton Kershaw starts his spring training with a scoreless inning
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<figcaption>Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="SbpFbD">PEORIA — <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> got his Cactus League started on Sunday with a scoreless inning in the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>’ 2-0 loss to the <a href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Mariners</a>, beginning the methodical yet necessary trek toward baseball that matters.</p>
<p id="VbNgoQ">Kershaw needed only 11 pitches to retire all three batters he faced on Sunday, inducing a pair of ground outs and a fly ball that took a treacherous path in the wind but still ended up in the glove of <span>Matt Kemp</span> in left field.</p>
<p id="LzZGtM">Kershaw’s curveball was working.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hello to you too, <a href="https://twitter.com/ClaytonKersh22?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ClaytonKersh22</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DodgersST?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DodgersST</a> <a href="https://t.co/DJnkR8jo2G">pic.twitter.com/DJnkR8jo2G</a></p>— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/967866242634866688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2018</a>
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<p id="4zOcsn">“It felt better doing this than during batting practice last week,” Kershaw said. “With the crowd, facing a different team, it helps a little bit.”</p>
<p id="0oYyHr">Kershaw threw a simulated inning facing Dodgers hitters last Tuesday in camp, then on Sunday after his one inning against the Mariners he pitched another simulated inning in the bullpen in Peoria, facing three imaginary batters.</p>
<p id="xRsTWL">Presumably, they were all retired.</p>
<p id="bbZBdI">This is all preliminary of course, with Kershaw focused on getting ready for <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2018/2/13/17000650/clayton-kershaw-opening-day-starts-dodgers-mlb-history">his opening day start on March 29</a>. Everything leading up to that is just putting in work. Very necessary, if tedious, work.</p>
<p id="Px1tf9">“Just because you’ve had some success last year or something worked doesn’t necessarily mean it carries over. I wish that were the case but you have to just continually to try to work at it,” Kershaw said. “Not necessarily adding stuff new every year, but trying to figure out what worked last year and trying to carry that over as best you can.</p>
<p id="HDEx9M">“[Spring training is] definitely needed, that’s for sure. It’s a little bit different. It’s fun to get to pitch at Dodger Stadium.”</p>
<p id="0lD3hw">That opening day start is still 32 days away, with five, maybe six more Kershaw exhibition starts to go before the real thing. Manager Dave Roberts floated the idea of the club possibly skipping Kershaw’s final spring start, which is usually a shortened final tuneup for the regular season.</p>
<p id="vsk55n">Kershaw said if that final start was skipped it would be news to him.</p>
<p id="hNLBV2">“I don’t think that’s going to happen. I think I’ll probably still make that last start,” Kershaw said. “It’s usually scaled back.”</p>
<h3 id="PHwkWI">Contract talks</h3>
<p id="DtUp1Y">The Dodgers front office is generally pretty tight-lipped about such things, but with Kershaw able to opt out of his contract at the end of 2018, which would leave two years and $65 million on the table, the fact that general manager Farhan Zaidi <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2018/2/20/17034334/clayton-kershaw-contract-open-dialogue-spring-training-live-hitters">said last week the club has had “open dialogue” with their ace</a> pitcher was somewhat newsworthy.</p>
<p id="XumfZZ">Asked about those comments Kershaw, also notoriously private about such matters, said Sunday, “That’s a good way to put it.”</p>
<p id="gRjGwY">Just as Zaidi stopped short of confirming the club has talked contract extension with Kershaw, the pitcher did the same on Sunday.</p>
<p id="gGTBLG">“We just talk,” Kershaw said. “Farhan, Andrew [Friedman] and I have good communication, and we are all on the same page as far as everything is going.”</p>
<h3 id="BkioV9">Fits to a tee</h3>
<p id="nHEo8S"><span>Corey Seager</span> and <span>Kyle Seager</span> played in a game against each other for the first time ever on Sunday, and before the game Dodgers photographer extraordinaire Jon SooHoo captured this shot of Corey kissing his niece while her father Kyle held her. The t-shirt is fantastic:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The best shirt <br><br> : <a href="https://twitter.com/JonSooHooPics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JonSooHooPics</a> <a href="https://t.co/IknLwQCcy5">pic.twitter.com/IknLwQCcy5</a></p>— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) <a href="https://twitter.com/DodgerInsider/status/967850764658925568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2018</a>
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<p id="Efkxgo"><span>Seager</span> was 0-for-3 with a strikeout as the designated hitter against Seattle.</p>
<h3 id="Fd1M21">Up next</h3>
<p id="LXg6IT">The Dodgers have another road game on Monday afternoon, facing the <a href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a> in Surprise (12:10 p.m. PT). <span>Alex Wood</span> starts for the Dodgers, with <span>Mike Minor</span> for Texas. No Dodgers television or radio for this game, though the Rangers radio broadcast can be heard through MLB Gameday Audio.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2018/2/25/17051016/clayton-kershaw-scoreless-inning-spring-training-is-requiredEric Stephen2018-02-25T08:46:51-08:002018-02-25T08:46:51-08:00Seager faces his brother Kyle for the first time
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<figcaption>Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="oKowMj">PHOENIX — <span>Corey Seager</span> said he still feels a knot in his stomach but is good enough to return to the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>’ lineup on Sunday afternoon against the <a href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Mariners</a> in Peoria.</p>
<p id="Jg8bZg">Seager will be the designated hitter on Sunday, batting second against Seattle, and will face his brother <span>Kyle Seager</span> in a game for the first time, at any level. </p>
<p id="OWDgl9">There is still no timetable for Seager to play shortstop in a major league game but he continues his throwing program during workouts, progressively adding more though at a deliberately slow pace.</p>
<p id="7r2i5N">“It’s not very aggressive but it’s what we believe is best for Corey,” manager Dave Roberts said. “When he’s in a major league game playing shortstop I don’t know the date, but we’ve left enough time on the calendar to get a few innings out there defensively.”</p>
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<p id="wHLQTp">Roberts estimated roughly 10 games at shortstop during spring training “would be plenty” for Seager to get ready for opening day.</p>
<p id="mjh6Mi">After playing the Dodgers’ spring opener on Friday Seager was scratched on Saturday with an illness. “Something at lunch kind of got his stomach,” manager Roberts said. “He felt a little queasy, and to force him to go out there didn’t make a whole lot of sense.”</p>
<p id="tYZOKb">Seager was a non-roster invitee in camp in 2015 and spent significant time nursing injuries during spring training in 2016 and 2017, so Sunday is the first time Seager will have ever played the Mariners, let alone against his brother.</p>
<p id="wbdFET">The Dodgers play the Mariners in the regular season, too, visiting Seattle for <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2017/9/12/16296168/dodgers-2018-schedule-opening-day-giants">a weekend series at Safeco Field from Aug. 17-19</a>.</p>
<p id="plbpNQ"><span>Clayton Kershaw</span> makes his first Cactus League start and is expected to pitch two innings as he builds up toward <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2018/2/13/17000650/clayton-kershaw-opening-day-starts-dodgers-mlb-history">his opening day start</a>.</p>
<p id="p3oaOJ">Other Dodgers slated to pitch on Sunday include <span>Scott Alexander</span>, <span>Tom Koehler</span>, <span>Brock Stewart</span>, <span>Pedro Baez</span> and <span>Mark Lowe</span>.</p>
<p id="K40o1U"><span>J.T. Chargois</span> reported to Dodgers camp on Sunday, and is expected to throw a bullpen session on Monday after getting squared away with his physical today. Roberts said Chargois threw two bullpen sessions in Twins camp before he was claimed off waivers, and threw off a mound four times before coming to camp.</p>
<p id="mlqhkM">Chargois will wear No. 47.</p>
<h3 id="aiWc5J">Game info</h3>
<p id="4h4ezV">Time: 12:10 p.m. PT</p>
<p id="2XiY5s">Locations: Peoria Sports Complex</p>
<p id="xN3kzk">TV: SportsNet LA (Joe Davis, Orel Hershiser)</p>
<p id="yKMZBB">Radio: none</p>
<p id="Hrjav4">Streaming: <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mediacenter/index.jsp?c_id=mlb">MLBtv</a></p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2018/2/25/17050178/corey-seager-dodgers-lineup-kyle-seager-mariners-clayton-kershawEric Stephen