The Los Angeles Dodgers have enjoyed plenty of success in Cactus League play under first-year manager Dave Roberts. On Thursday, Los Angeles gets to face some form of the reigning World Series champion Kansas City Royals.
The Royals’ travel roster doesn’t include several marquee players, but prospect Raul Mondesi, left fielder Alex Gordon and first baseman Kendrys Morales are in the lineup. As is former Dodgers catcher Drew Butera, who is behind the plate and batting sixth.
After getting scratched from his start against the Chicago Cubs, Alex Wood takes the mound, looking to quiet the concern that came with him battling left forearm tightness.
Wood allowed five runs (two earned) on four hits over two innings against the Cleveland Indians on March 7, which is his only other start of the spring. He’s opposed by his former Atlanta Braves teammate, Kris Medlen.
The right-hander threw two scoreless innings against the Chicago Cubs on March 7, then allowed three runs on six hits, including one home run, over three innings of work against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Medlen is 3-0 with a 1.23 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in eight career regular-season games (three starts) against the Dodgers. Carl Crawford returns from back soreness that’s kept him out of the lineup since March 12. Alex Guerrero starts at third base for the first time since March 3.
Although the details in the video below reference the Dodgers-Colorado Rockies game, it’s a live stream of Thursday’s action:
