Happy Birthday Clayton Kershaw

Today is Clayton Kershaw’s Birthday. He turns 24, and ironically, is also starting today’s Dodger road spring training game. The Cy Young Birthday boy, will be making somewhere between 80-85 pitches today, at Goodyear park. The Cleveland Indians will counter with youngster Jeanmar Gomez. Also expected to pitch in today’s game is Kenley Jansen, Javy Guerra, Scott Elbert, and Scott Rice. The Dodgers Lineup is listed below as follows……

Dodger Lineup

Hairston4

Loney3

Kemp8

Ethier9

Rivera7

Kennedy5

Sellers6

Treanor2

Kershaw1

Clayton Kershaw vs. Jeanmar Gomez

Dee Gordon gets the day off at shortstop. Justin Sellers will be starting in his place. Jerry Hairston Jr. will be returning to the lineup after a sore quad muscle, and Adam Kennedy will also be in the starting lineup today as well.

Matt Kemp, and Andre Ethier, are two of the Dodgers making the drive to Tuscon on Friday for the Dodgers Charity split squad game against the White Sox, that benefits, the Taylor Green Memorial Foundation. The Foundation is named after the nine year old daughter of Dodger scout John green who was killed in the 2011 shooting that also injured congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Juan Rivera, Tony Gywnn Jr., Mark Ellis, A.J. Ellis, Dee Gordon, and Jerry Hairston Jr. will all play in the charity game, which will take place at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium at 105PM next Friday.

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Matt Guerrier’s rusty back  is steadily improving. He is expected to throw off a mound on Monday, and face hitters in a simulated game on Wendensday. He could be back in game action by this weekend.

Manager Don Mattingly is not too enthusiastic about Ivan De Jesus’s chances of recovering from his Oblique injury in time to make the opening day roster.

“With this type of injury, there’s not a lot you can do. If you lose eight to 10 days, how many days does it take just to get your timing back? Not a good time to get hurt. You could see it on his face last night. These guys know it hurts your chance.”

I have always said that De Jesus was a huge long shot to make the opening day roster, and now with this injury, it seems like his chances are even slimmer. Today’s game is on at 105PM, and televised on MLB network only. Happy Birthday Clayton! Go Blue!