Getting the order right
PHOENIX — With the Dodgers scheduled to break camp Wednesday, Adrian Gonzalez was among several veterans permitted to travel to Los Angeles a day early.
As Gonzalez packed his bags, he sounded upbeat about how the lineup has looked during the exhibition season, which will conclude in Southern California with the three-game Freeway Series against the Angels.
The Dodgers’ 46 home runs are the most in baseball this spring. Their .286 average is sixth-best.
“Good professional at-bats,” Gonzalez said.
While Manager Don Mattingly said switch-hitting shortstop Jimmy Rollins would bat leadoff, other parts of the lineup remain undecided.
Right fielder Yasiel Puig batted second — with Gonzalez behind him — in the Dodgers’ 2-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday.
Mattingly said he wants Puig and Gonzalez to be paired, either in the second and third spots or the third and fourth. Gonzalez likes the idea. “With him, if he gets on base, he creates a threat to the pitcher, the pitcher worries about him a little more, may make more mistakes to me,” the first baseman said. “And I’m protecting him a little bit.”
However, Gonzalez downplayed the idea that his presence would automatically result in increased production for Puig.
“He’s still got to do his thing. I’m not going to be a factor in whether he does well or not,” Gonzalez said. “He’s still got to swing at strikes and he’s still got to lay off balls. If he’s able to do that, his numbers will be there.”
Second baseman Howie Kendrick batted fourth Tuesday, followed by switch-hitting catcher Yasmani Grandal , left fielder Carl Crawford and third baseman Juan Uribe .
Rookie Joc Pederson didn’t play, but is expected to be the team’s primary center fielder. Pederson, who leads the Dodgers with six spring home runs, could start the season as the No. 8 hitter.
Ethier is all right
Andre Ethier was removed from Tuesday’s game in the second inning after he was struck in the right elbow by a pitch from Carlos Rodon . The results of an X-ray were negative and the Dodgers said Ethier could play as early as Thursday in the opening game of the Freeway Series. Ethier is batting .313 in the exhibition season.
Cutting down
Relievers Dustin McGowan and Mike Adams were informed they wouldn’t be on the openingday roster.
The hard-throwing McGowan was on the 40-man roster on a minimum-salary contract that included a $1-million bonus if he made the team. He is expected to be released, though he could be resigned to a minor league contract. McGowan posted a 6.75 earnedrun average in seven spring appearances.
Adams, in camp as a nonroster player, will start his season at triple-A Oklahoma City. He will be paid a retention fee of $100,000. Adams pitched in five Cactus League games, posting a 9.64 ERA.
The Dodgers have three nonroster relievers still competing for places on the opening-day roster: Sergio Santos , David Huff and David Aardsma .
Short hops
Right-hander Chad Gaudin was diagnosed with nerve irritation in his neck and will remain in Arizona to rehabilitate when the Dodgers break camp. . . . With Gaudin and Erik Bedard sidelined, the Dodgers signed two-time All-Star Freddy Garcia to a minor league contract to be part of their triple-A pitching staff. Garcia, 38, pitched in Taiwan last year.