March 16 pregame: From farewell to g’day

By Jon Weisman

Today brings the Dodgers’ long day’s journey into night: a Camelback Ranch finale followed by a flight to Australia.

The lineup to the right might well be the Dodgers’ intended starting lineup for the regular season, as much as there can be one given health issues and how often Don Mattingly will factor in matchups.

Meanwhile, the team hasn’t made an official announcement yet about its Australia travel roster, though the pieces have nearly fallen into place, factoring in the news that Carl Crawford won’t travel as he waits for his child to be born.

Remember the unique rules: The Dodgers can take 30 players to Australia, not including three exempt players who will stay behind but remain eligible for the team’s domestic opener March 30 at San Diego. Five of the 30 only travel as potential injury replacements and otherwise wouldn’t be on the active roster for official games.

Here is a potential — though again, not official — list, with the backup five in italics:

• Starting pitchers (4): Clayton Kershaw, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Paul Maholm, Zach Lee or Red Patterson
• Relief pitchers (10): Kenley Jansen, Brian Wilson, J.P. Howell, Chris Perez, Jamey Wright, Paco Rodriguez, Seth Rosin, Chris Withrow, Jose Dominguez, Javy Guerra
• Catchers (3): A.J. Ellis, Tim Federowicz, Drew Butera
• Infielders (7): Adrian Gonzalez, Dee Gordon, Hanley Ramirez, Juan Uribe, Justin Turner, Chone Figgins, Miguel Rojas
• Outfielders (6): Yasiel Puig, Andre Ethier, Scott Van Slyke, Mike Baxter, Joc Pederson, Nick Buss
• Exempt (3): Zack Greinke, Dan Haren, Brandon League
• Disabled list (4): Josh Beckett, Chad Billingsley, Scott Elbert, Matt Kemp
• Paternity leave (1): Carl Crawford

Links and other notes:

• However meaningless it was, it’s clear that Clayton Kershaw was fairly frustrated by his Spring Training performance, which ended in Saturday’s 5-4 loss to the White Sox. He talked to Tyler Emerick of MLB.com about it.
• Arizona pitcher Patrick Corbin, whom the Dodgers were scheduled to face Opening Day in Sydney, has a damaged ulnar collateral ligament and won’t make the trip while he seeks a second opinion on his condition, writes John Schlegel of MLB.com.
• The Dodgers might be facing a decision on Miguel Olivo, reports Emerick, who says Olivo has asked for his release rather than accept a minor-league assignment.
• Matt Kemp went 1 for 2 in a minor-league game Saturday, playing three innings in center field.
• Jose Dominguez, Jamey Wright and Paco Rodriguez have now pitched on consecutive days. Dominguez pitched eight innings in the Cactus League without allowing a run, allowing five baserunners while striking out nine.
• Kenley Jansen is scheduled to go back-to-back today after extending his own scoreless streak by an inning Saturday.
• Sam Demel completed his Arizona run with 7 1/3 scoreless innings.
• Dee Gordon had his fourth Spring Training triple in 39 at-bats Saturday, to go with a perfect record in nine steals. Gordon’s exhibition OBP is .326.
• The Dodgers’ top OBPs this spring have come from infield candidates Miguel Rojas (.500) and Justin Turner (.432).
• Craig Minami of True Blue L.A. interviewed several potential Dodger reserves about how they are taking to their roles off the bench.