The Los Angeles Dodgers begin their 2021 Cactus League slate Sunday afternoon against the Oakland Athletics and in doing so will send non-roster invitee Mike Kickham to the mound for the start.
“I would assume it’s just going to be one inning,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. He did not indicate who would start in the ensuing games, though the Dodgers often are more deliberate with when their usual pitchers make spring debuts.
Kickham spent last season with the Boston Red Sox organization and appeared in six games (two starts) after having his contract selected. He went 1-1 with a 7.71 ERA and 1.86 WHIP in those games.
Prior to that the southpaw had last been in the Majors with the San Francisco Giants during parts of the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Kickham appeared in a combined 14 games (three starts) over that span, going 0-3 with a 10.98 ERA, 6.02 FIP and 2.14 WHIP.
The 32-year-old elected free agency last year and went on to sign a Minor League contract with the Dodgers. He presumably will spend this season with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Dodgers regulars expected to be lineup
With the opportunity to shorten initial Spring Training games, it could create a bit of a crunch for position players looking to log sufficient at-bats against live pitching before the regular season begins.
“I’m kind of putting together the lineup, the roster,” Roberts said. “But I expect Austin Barnes to be catching, I expect Chris Taylor to be in there and AJ Pollock to be in there.”
Roberts had previously noted AJ Pollock may not be part of a traditional platoon this season, but the expectation is Chris Taylor and Matt Beaty will also see time in left field.
For Taylor, Roberts said this spring will entail playing second base along with some shortstop, third base, left field and center field.
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