Freeway Exhibition Series Game 3 Preview: Haren To Make Brief Start
The Los Angeles Dodgers will play their final exhibition game of 2014 on Saturday as the freeway series shifts to Anaheim. The Angels and Dodgers split the first two games at Chavez Ravine, with the Dodgers winning theirs in dramatic fashion on Friday. It’s been a rough stretch of days for the Dodgers, who learned Clayton Kershaw would not start Sunday’s U.S. opener in San Diego, which affected the previously set pitching rotation for the three-game exhibition series.
Dan Haren, who was initially scheduled to start on Friday, but was scratched with the chance he would need to start in place of Kershaw, finally gets a chance to take the mound on Saturday. Haren didn’t travel with the Dodgers for the Opening Series, instead staying behind at Camelback Ranch to recover and work through a tired arm. The right-hander pitched in a Minor League game on March 18 and said after pitching 4.2 innings that he “felt great.” Prior to that game, Haren last pitched on March 11, going four innings, allowing seven hits and one run. According to several reports, Haren will throw one or two innings on Saturday as a final tuneup for his scheduled regular season debut on April 2. Saturday will be Haren’s second outing against his former teammates, with the first coming back on March 6.
Left-handed Tyler Skaggs, previously with the Arizona Diamondbacks, takes the mound for the Angels. Skaggs started five Spring Training games, finishing with a 2-1 record and 4.95 ERA. In two seasons with the Diamondbacks, Skaggs started 13 games and has a 3-6 career record. Coming from the National League, multiple Dodger hitters have faced Skaggs and experienced success. Scott Van Slyke leads with a 1.000, but he’s only had one at-bat against the left-hander. Surprisingly, Andre Ethier is hitting .750 off Skaggs through four at-bats. Hanley Ramirez has three at-bats against Skaggs and is batting .667.
Yasiel Puig will be batting in the lead off spot, and Scott Van Slyke will be batting fifth taking over for Carl Crawford’s left field duties. Mattingly will be utilizing Crawford as the designated hitter in their final spring game, and Justin Turner will get the start at second base today.
It’s a 6:10 p.m. start at Angel Stadium and it can again be seen on each team’s respective television broadcast. Considering the limited availability of the Dodgers’ network, SportsNet LA, it is likely several Dodger fans will be watching the Angels’ broadcast on channel 13 KCOP.
Dodgers Lineup
RF: Puig
DH: Crawford
SS: Ramirez
1B: Gonzalez
LF: Van Slyke
3B: Uribe
CF: Ethier
2B: Turner
C: Ellis
P: Haren
Angels Lineup
RF: Calhoun
CF: Trout
1B: Pujols
LF: Hamilton
3B: Freese
DH: Ibanez
2B: Kendrick
C: Iannetta
SS: Aybar
P: Skaggs
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