The Los Angeles Dodgers are starting non-roster invitee Mike Kickham in their Cactus League opener against the Oakland Athletics, but will follow him Monday with giving Trevor Bauer an opportunity to make his Spring Training debut.
Bauer is scheduled to throw two innings against the Colorado Rockies at Camelback Ranch. The Monday afternoon game is expected to be shortened to six innings, which will come on the heels of the Dodgers and A’s only playing seven.
“It was more on the pitching side and where we’re at, the numbers and buildup,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of taking advantage of MLB allowing teams to play shorter games through the first week-plus of Spring Training.