Spring Training Preview: Mookie Betts, Chris Taylor Make Up Middle Infield; Dodgers Face Hanser Alberto

The Los Angeles Dodgers face the Chicago White Sox for the first time this spring and do so as the designated home team against their Camelback Ranch co-tenant.

Julio Urías is on the mound for his second and final start with the Dodgers before joining Team Mexico for the 2023 World Baseball Classic. The left-hander allowed one run and pitched into the third inning in this year’s Cactus League debut.

“It felt really good out there. It felt like I was attacking the zone and making good pitches,” Urías said after the outing.

“I don’t think there’s a focus on getting to a certain inning. I was more pitch-conscious, trying to get to 40 pitches. After the second inning, we got to 30, so I had 10 more to play with in the third.”

Andre Jackson, Evan Phillips, Victor González and Tayler Scott are scheduled to pitch against the White Sox as well. The appearance will be González’s first of the spring as he looks to bounce back from what largely was a lost 2022 season because of injury.

The Dodgers pitching staff faces a White Sox lineup that includes Hanser Alberto in the leadoff spot. He spent last season with the Dodgers and earned praise from manager Dave Roberts and teammates, but had the team option on his contract declined for 2023.

Alberto went on to sign a Minor League deal with the White Sox.

“Hanser was awesome. Great addition to our club,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said on Friday.

“I think the joy he had not just playing the game, but supporting his teammates, even in early work. It’s a long season and so to have guys like that are extremely important for the clubhouse. He provided a ton beyond what he did on the field.”

On the mound for the White Sox is Lucas Giolito for his first start of the spring. Giolito is entering his seventh season with Chicago.

Mookie Betts again is at second base and in the leadoff spot of the Dodgers lineup. He forms the middle infield with Chris Taylor, who is expected to see more time at shortstop this year in the wake of Gavin Lux’s ACL injury.

Dodgers lineup

2B: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
SS: Chris Taylor
3B: Max Muncy
DH: J.D. Martinez
CF: David Peralta
C: Austin Barnes
LF: James Outman
RF: Bradley Zimmer

White Sox lineup

SS: Hanser Alberto
1B: Andrew Vaughn
LF: Andrew Benintendi
DH: Eloy Jiménez
3B: Jake Burger
RF: Oscar Colas
CF: Leury García
2B: Lenyn Sosa
C: Sebastian Rivero

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