Spring Training Preview: David Huff Starts As Dodgers Face Mariners

For the first time this spring, the Los Angeles Dodgers will face a new opponent in their third Cactus League game. One day removed from Clayton Kershaw’s Spring Training debut that resulted in a win for the Dodgers, the club returns to Camelback Ranch for a split-squad game with the Seattle Mariners.

Dodgers Don Mattingly was expected to give the rotation a somewhat of shake up as a result of the split-squad matches. Huff, a Southern California native, spent the majority of career in the American League before signing with the Dodgers. The lone exception was a short stint last season with the San Francisco Giants.

The Dodgers are facing right-handed pitcher Erasmo Ramirez. He is a young pitcher with only three seasons under his belt, only making 35 career starts with a 4.62 ERA. In the last four seasons, the Dodgers and Mariners have played just three games with the Dodgers winning the series back in 2012 in games Kershaw and Chad Billingsley started.

Jimmy Rollins leads off, which is expected given Mattingly’s announcement earlier this week that the shortstop was best fitted for that role. Initially on the lineup card as the designated hitter, Austin Barnes will instead catch, which moves Yasmani Grandal to DH.

Hours before Barnes was on the field for Friday’s game, he caught Zack Greinke’s first live batting practice of the spring.

Dodgers Lineup:

SS: Jimmy Rollins

LF: Carl Crawford

1B: Adrian Gonzalez

C: Yasmani Grandal

2B: Howie Kendrick

RF: Andre Ethier

3B: Juan Uribe

CF: Chris Heisey

DH: Austin Barnes

P: David Huff

Mariners Lineup:

CF: Justin Ruggiano

LF: Rickie Weeks

DH: Franklin Gutierrez

1B: Jesus Montero

3B: D.J. Peterson

RF: Stefen Romero

2B: Willie Bloomquist

SS: Chris Taylor

C: Jesus Sucre

P: Erasmo Ramirez

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A.J. Ellis Discusses Spring Training Preparation