After coming away with a road victory against the Colorado Rockies, the Los Angeles Dodgers return to Camelback Ranch to host the Milwaukee Brewers for the first of two Cactus League matchups.
Cody Bellinger, who had been held out of game action while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, makes his 2021 debut. He is batting fifth and playing center field.
To this point, Bellinger has largely been limited to participating in fielding and baserunning during workouts. He only recently advanced to taking batting practice and swings off live pitching in “B” games.
Despite this, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has been impressed with Bellinger’s quality of at-bats. “I think really good,” Roberts said. “Especially considering he hasn’t seen live pitching in quite some time. I think he’s in a great spot where he’s at.”
Bellinger is expected serve as the Dodgers’ designated hitter in Wednesday’s contest against the Chicago White Sox. How often he plays for the remainder of the spring will depend on where he is at health-wise.
“It’s more of how he feels,” Roberts said. “I’m not sure of his rehab progression, so I doubt every day in the field. But the goal still is to get him ready for Opening Day. Whatever that looks like.”
Clayton Kershaw makes his third start of Spring Training and will be piggybacked by Trevor Bauer. In his two previous Cactus League outings, Kershaw allowed just one run on four hits with five strikeouts over five innings of work.
Kershaw was recently named the Dodgers’ 2021 Opening Day starter. For the left-hander, it will mark a franchise-record ninth time getting to start the first game of the season.
The Brewers counter with Josh Lindblom, who makes his fourth appearance of the spring. Through three games (two starts), he owns a 7.50 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in six innings pitched.
The Dodgers are trotting out a lineup that could look similar to Opening Day, with Mookie Betts, Corey Seager and Justin Turner among the regulars playing. Unlike the Brewers, they are not utilizing the DH and instead will let Kershaw bat in the No. 9 spot.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Max Muncy
CF: Cody Bellinger
C: Will Smith
2B: Chris Taylor
LF: Matt Beaty
P: Clayton Kershaw
Brewers lineup
2B: Kolten Wong
SS: Luis Urías
RF: Jackie Bradley Jr.
1B: Keston Hiura
3B: Travis Shaw
DH: Omar Narváez
LF: Daniel Robertson
CF: Tyrone Taylor
C: Luke Maile
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