Just over one week into their 2016 Cactus League schedule, the Los Angeles Dodgers play their first split-squad games on Saturday. They host the Chicago Cubs at Camelback Ranch with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m. PT, and take the field at Peoria Sports Complex 35 minutes against the Seattle Mariners.
Alex Wood was scheduled to face the Cubs, with Brandon Beachy starting against the Mariners. However, Wood was scratched due to left forearm tightness, causing the Dodgers to adjust. Beachy replaced Wood and Carlos Frias gets the nod in the road game.
Frias has allowed one run and has two strikeouts in four innings over two relief appearances this spring. He gained plenty of experience last season as the Dodgers dealt with multiple injuries in the rotation.
Frias went 4-5 with a 4.42 ERA and 1.49 WHIP in 13 games as a starter. In four relief appearances, the right-hander was 1-0 with six scoreless innings pitched and a 1.26 WHIP.
In his career, Frias is 4-6 with a 4.96 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and averages 5.1 strikeouts per nine innings over 15 starts. In 17 lifetime relief appearances, he’s 2-0 with a 3.94 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and averages 7.9 strikeouts per nine innings.
The Mariners counter by sending James Paxton to the hill for his third start. The left-hander threw two scoreless innings, issued one walk and had one strikeout against the San Diego Padres on March 2.
Paxton followed that performance by allowing four runs on seven hits in three innings of work against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He’s faced the Dodgers once in his career — last season — and was charged for five runs in 6.1 innings pitched.
Alex Guerrero was penciled in to return from left knee soreness as the designated hitter, but he was scratched; Guerrero has been out since March 4. Shawn Zarraga takes Guerero’s place as the DH. Both Yasmani Grandal (right arm) and Corey Seager (left knee) are unavailable Saturday.
Seager is expected to miss the next one to two weeks with a left knee sprain. A.J. Ellis is behind plate and Kiké Hernandez starts at shortstop and bats leadoff against the Mariners.
Dodgers lineup:
SS: Kiké Hernandez
CF: Trayce Thompson
LF: Andre Ethier
1B: Scott Van Slyke
C: A.J. Ellis
DH: Shawn Zarraga
3B: Rob Segedin
RF: Alex Hassan
2B: Elian Herrera
Mariners lineup:
LF: Nori Aoki
SS: Ketel Marte
2B: Robinson Cano
DH: Nelson Cruz
1B: Adam Lind
3B: Kyle Seager
RF: Franklin Gutierrez
C: Steve Clevenger
CF: Boog Powell
