Spring Training Preview: Bedard Starts Dodgers Cactus League Opener

After two weeks of bullpen sessions, workouts and batting practice, the Los Angeles Dodgers begin Cactus League play Wednesday with a game against their Camelback Ranch co-tenant, Chicago White Sox.

Starting for the Dodgers is Erik Bedard, who signed a Minor-League deal with the club in January. Bedard joined the Dodgers after having spent a portion of last season with the Tampa Bay Rays.

The left-hander appeared in 17 games (15 starts) and pitched 75.2 innings for the Rays, finishing with a 4.76 ERA, and 7.6 strikeout-per-nine innings ratio before being released in August. As for his Spring Training track record, the 35 year old (36 on March 5) is a career 11-11 with a 4.83 ERA in 41 games (36 starts).

Over his 11-year career, Bedard is 4-3 with a 3.86 ERA in 11 games against the White Sox, including 10 starts; he last faced them in 2013 when he was with the Houston Astros.

Starting opposite Bedard is Jose Quintana, who enters his forth season with the White Sox. Quintana went 9-11 with a 3.32 ERA in 32 starts last season. The Colombian native is 0-1 in two career starts against the Dodgers and allowed five runs over six innings when he faced them last season.

Despite the fact that the White Sox are sending a left-hander to the mound, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly didn’t shy away from including multiple left-handed batters in his lineup. Andre Ethier gets the start in center field, however it doesn’t mean Joc Pederson will sit on the bench.

Instead, the highly touted rookie is the designated hitter and will likely be replaced at some point in the game by Corey Seager. On the heels of Mattingly selecting Jimmy Rollins as the leadoff hitter, Wednesday is the veteran shortstop’s opportunity to validate Mattingly’s decision.

Dodgers Lineup:

SS: Jimmy Rollins

LF: Carl Crawford

1B: Adrian Gonzalez

2B: Howie Kendrick

C: Yasmani Grandal

CF: Andre Ethier

3B: Juan Uribe

DH: Joc Pederson

RF: Chris Heisey

White Sox Lineup:

CF: Adam Eaton

LF: Melky Cabrera

1B: Jose Abreu

DH: Adam LaRoche

RF: Avisail Garcia

SS: Alexei Ramirez

3B: Gordon Beckham

C: Tyler Flowers

2B: Carlos Sanchez

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