Gonsolin’s ankle cause for concern
Dodgers pitcher Tony Gonsolin’s sprained left ankle remains swollen. An Xray ruled out any fractures but he won’t throw for at least several days. His status for opening day is to be determined.
“It’s not something we feel really good about right now,” manager Dave Roberts said of Gonsolin’s injury. “Right now we’re just trying to do a full-court press and getting the ankle back to full strength where he can bear weight.”
Gonsolin was hurt Monday walking off the field following a drill. The righthander went 16-1 last year, was selected an All-Star and led the starters with a 2.14 earned-run average.
— Jack Harris
Dodgers notes
Daniel Hudson and Yency Almonte faced hitters in live batting practice as they continue to ramp up in hopes of being ready for opening day.
Hudson hadn’t faced hitters this spring while battling ankle tendinitis. Roberts said the right-hander’s status for the start of the season is unclear but added that the reliever has been taking positive steps in his recovery. Almonte seems much likelier to be ready for the opener. Roberts said the team has been slow with his build-up this spring after he finished last season battling an elbow injury but sees “no reason why he wouldn’t be able to start the season.”
Gavin Lux’s surgery “went well,” Roberts said. In addition to the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, the shortstop also had a torn lateral collateral ligament that had to be repaired. Roberts didn’t have a timeline for his recovery.
— Jack Harris
WBC begins
The 20-team World Baseball Classic began late Tuesday after a six-year absence with Panama defeating Taiwan 12-5 for its first win in tournament history and the Netherlands beating Cuba 4-2 as Didi Gregorius drove in the tying run and scored the go-ahead run.
Play in Group B begins Thursday in Tokyo with South Korea playing Australia and host Japan — led by Angels star Shohei Ohtani — up against China. Play in Groups C and D begins Saturday in Phoenix and Miami.
The U.S., which opens against Britain, was limited to four hits Wednesday in a 5-1 exhibition loss to the San Francisco Giants. Paul Goldschmidt homered for the only run. Mike Trout will play Thursday against the Angels in an exhibition in Tempe.
The U.S. won the last tournament in 2017 and is among the favorites. Japan has won it twice (2006, 2009), the Dominicans once (2013).
The WBC is being played without the pitch clock, and the Panama-Taiwan game lasted four hours.
Etc.
Gregory Soto, the hardthrowing left-handed reliever Philadelphia acquired in a January trade with Detroit, finally reported to camp after he missed the first three weeks while dealing with visa issues at home in the Dominican Republic.