fbpx

Spring Training Preview: Kenta Maeda Starts, Howie Kendrick Returns To Dodgers Lineup

Matthew Moreno
3 Min Read
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Beginning with their win on Monday against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Los Angeles Dodgers are in a stretch that has them playing six of eight games at Camelback Ranch. On Sunday, the Dodgers will play split-squad games against the San Diego Padres (Camelback Ranch) and Brewers (Maryvale).

The Dodgers are the designated road team on Tuesday in their tilt with the Chicago White Sox, and they’ll again be the road time against the White Sox on Saturday. Kenta Maeda looks to follow on the heels of Mike Bolsinger’s solid out.

Maeda is 1-0 and has tossed a combined five shutout innings over his first two Spring Training starts. He’s allowed just three hits, walked two and collected five strikeouts.

The Dodgers, who sit atop the Cactus League standings with a 9-2-2 record, have won both games Maeda started. Luis Avilan, Ian Thomas, Joe Blanton, Chris Hatcher, Jamey Wright and Jose De Leon are scheduled to pitch in relief on Tuesday.

The Dodgers also have Red Patterson and Dustin Richardson up from Minor League camp. Chicago sends left-hander Jose Quintana to the mound for his second start this spring.

Quintana allowed a solo home run, two runs and had three strikeouts in 4.1 innings of work against the Texas Rangers. Quintana is 0-1 with five runs (all unearned) allowed over two career starts (14 innings) against the Dodgers.

One day after Justin Turner made his 2016 Spring Training debut, Howie Kendrick returns to the lineup. Kendrick last played March 5 and has been out since due to groin soreness. He’s being eased back into the swing of things as the designated hitter.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday morning that Kendrick will see time in the infield later this week, assuming all goes well in his return. As Roberts previously stated would be the case, Austin Barnes gets an opportunity to play second base.

He started one game there last season with the Dodgers, but exclusively was used as a catcher by Triple-A Oklahoma City. The Dodgers get their first look at Jimmy Rollins since the veteran signed a Minor League contract with the White Sox in February.

Rollins is batting .350/.364/.650 (7-for-20) with two home runs and six RBIs in seven games. The Dodgers defeated the White Sox, 6-1, in their Cactus League opener on March 3.

Dodgers lineup:

SS: Kiké Hernandez
DH: Howie Kendrick
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
RF: Scott Van Slyke
LF: Andre Ethier
3B: Chase Utley
C: A.J. Ellis
CF: Joc Pederson
2B: Austin Barnes

White Sox lineup:

DH: Adam Eaton
SS: Jimmy Rollins
1B: Jose Abreu
3B: Todd Frazier
LF: Melky Cabrera
2B: Brett Lawrie
CF: Austin Jackson
C: Alex Avila
RF: J.B. Shuck

Matthew Moreno is a journalist from Whittier, Calif., who is a credentialed reporter and is currently the Managing Editor of DodgerBlue.com and LakersNation.com. In addition to covering Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angels Lakers, Matthew has a strong passion for keeping up to date with the sneakerhead culture. It began with Michael Jordan and Air Jordan shoes, and has carried over to Kobe Bryant's signature line with Nike. Matthew previously was the lead editor and digital strategist at Dodgers Nation, and the co-editor and lead writer at Reign of Troy, where he covered USC Trojans Football. Matthew graduated from California State Long Beach University with a major in journalism and minor in communications. Contact: matt@mediumlargela.com