Spring Training Preview: Anderson Starts, Grandal Replaces Puig As DH
The backend of the rotation for the Los Angeles Dodgers is one of the team’s bigger question marks heading into the regular season. Friday night Brandon McCarthy continued to do his part in answering that question, allowing one run and three hits in three innings of work against the Cincinnati Reds in a game that ended in a 3-3 tie.
Brett Anderson now gets the opportunity to take the mound for the second time this spring as the Dodgers host the Cleveland Indians at Camelback Ranch. The 27-year-old left-hander was excellent in his first Spring Training outing as a Dodger, giving up one hit and no runs in two innings of work.
Carlos Carrasco was slated to start for the Indians, but he was scratched from the lineup a few hours prior to the game due to an illness. Veteran left-hander Bruce Chen starts in place of Carrasco. Chen is making his third start this spring.
He has allowed two runs and three hits in a combined five innings of work during Cactus League play, with both those runs coming on solo home runs. Chen in entering his first season with the Indians after spending six seasons with the Kansas City Royals before being released by the team in September.
Carrasco isn’t the only player who will miss action on Saturday. Yasiel Puig was originally scheduled to bat third as the designated hitter, but was sent home due to illness; Dodgers manager Don Mattingly inserts Yasmani Grandal in his place.
The Dodgers and Indians met one week ago at Goodyear Stadium and played to a tie after the Indians mounted a four-run rally in the ninth inning.
Dodgers Lineup:
SS: Jimmy Rollins
LF: Carl Crawford
DH: Yasiel Puig
2B: Howie Kendrick
1B: Van Slyke
3B: Justin Turner
C: A.J. Ellis
CF: Joc Pederson
RF: Chris Heisey
P: Brett Anderson
Indians Lineup
SS: Jose Ramirez
DH: Jason Kipnis
RF: Ryan Raburn
CF: Tyler Holt
LF: Destin Hood
1B: Jerry Sands
C: Roberto Perez
2B: Erik Gonzalez
3B Giovanny Urshela
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Brandon McCarthy Discusses First Spring Training Start
