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Too much basketball this weekend? The cure comes tonight with an exciting (or as exciting as they can get) spring training match-up between the Dodgers and Royals. First off, Zack Greinke is scheduled to start for LA. Second, the game will be broadcast on Fox Sports Kansas City (and MLBN, too). Third, it is an 8:10 Central start time: put the kids to be early, stock the fridge and have some fun. Look at it as your spring training for Opening Day just one week from now.
The Lineup:
Gordon LF
Escobar SS
Butler DH
Moustakas 3B
Perez C
Hosmer 1B
Cain CF
Francoeur RF
Getz 2B
This is looking more and more like the Opening Day batting order and, given that you knew Frenchy and Getz would be in the nine, about how I would have designed the order myself. Sure, part of Ned Yost's thought process included the phrase 'say Gordon gets on first and Esky moves him over', but we all knew that was coming, too. It is not a bad order to start out with and if Hosmer and Cain hit their way up the line during the season, all the better.
On the mound will be Wade Davis who may be as much or more critical to the Royals' 2013 chances as anyone not named Hosmer. Without question, Davis by himself can go a long ways towards justifying Dayton Moore's off-season should he realize the promise that caused Tampa to give him a long term deal two years back.
Curious about the Omaha Stormchasers? You can catch a season preview from Mark Nassar, their play-by-play guy tonight.
If you have tickets to the home opener or just plan on skipping work and drinking (notice a theme?) two Mondays from now, pay particular attention to whom Ned finally officially names the number two starter. It looks as though Ned-Frank is leaning towards Ervin Santana in that spot. Whoever gets that second slot and the Wednesday start in Chicago will, barring rainouts, certainly be the starter April 8th in Kansas City.
That is not dependent on whether the Royals juggle the rotation to keep the 'big four' in normal rest. If they decide to skip the fifth starter to take advantage of the Tuesday off-day in Chicago and start Shields on Saturday the 5th, they will still have to come back with the fifth starter on Sunday:
- Monday, April 1 at Chicago - Shields
- Tuesday, April 2 - off
- Wednesday, April 3 at Chicago - #2
- Thursday, April 4 at Chicago - #3
- Friday, April 5 at Philly - #4
- Saturday, April 6 at Philly - either #5 or Shields
- Sunday, April 7 at Philly - Shields or #5 (whichever does not pitch on Saturday)
- Monday, April 8 in KC - #2