Baseball notebook: Dodgers, D-backs arrive down under
After a 15-hour flight from the U.S. west coast, the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers arrived to a very low-key welcome in Sydney, Australia for their season-opening series this weekend.
The Diamondbacks arrived first at Sydney airport about 6 a.m. local time Tuesday morning, followed about four hours later by the Dodgers.
There were only a few autograph seekers to meet both teams, unlike recent opening-day series in Tokyo where arriving teams were mobbed by fans.
The players won’t have much time to get over jet lag – both teams were scheduled to train at the Sydney Cricket Ground later in the day.
Clayton Kershaw will start for the Dodgers in Saturday’s season opener, with left-hander Wade Miley replacing Patrick Corbin, who has a left elbow injury, as the Diamondbacks starter.
They’ll close out the two-game series Sunday when the Dodgers’ Hyun-Jin Ryu is slated to start against Arizona’s Trevor Cahill.
The Dodgers will play Team Australia in an exhibition game Thursday, with the Diamondbacks to play Australia on Friday.
Next weekend’s games will mark the 100th anniversary of an exhibition game played by the Chicago White Sox and the New York Giants at the Sydney Cricket Ground, won 5-4 by Chicago before 10,000 fans on Jan. 3, 1914.
Iglesias stressed out
Detroit shortstop Jose Iglesias said he has stress fractures in both legs and isn’t sure when he’ll be able to play again, leaving the Tigers two weeks to fill his spot for opening day and perhaps a lot longer.
The 24-year-old Iglesias is set to see a specialist in Colorado today. After that, he’ll have a better idea on his future status.
Minus Iglesias, the Tigers might pick from among three players already in camp as their shortstop – Danny Worth, Hernan Perez and Eugenio Suarez.
Free agent shortstop Stephen Drew also is available, and Seattle infielder Nick Franklin could be a possible trade target.
Detroit general manager Dave Dombrowski said Iglesias will begin the season on the disabled list. The Tigers open on March 31 at home against Kansas City.
Clearing the bases
Oakland Athletics right-hander Jarrod Parker needs elbow ligament-replacement surgery and will miss the season. … Braves pitcher Kris Medlen will undergo season-ending surgery today, while teammate Brandon Beachy will get another opinion on his ailing elbow. Medlen and Beachy were examined Monday by Dr. James Andrews in Gulf Breeze, Fla. Beachy will head to Los Angeles to get another opinion from Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the Dodgers’ team physician. … New York Mets pitcher Jonathon Niese received a cortisone injection in the back of his left elbow and was cleared to resume throwing later this week. … Right-hander Chris Tillman has been selected by Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter to start on opening day – March 31– against the defending champion Boston Red Sox. … Philadelphia ace Cliff Lee was tabbed to start the Phillies’ opener on March 31 against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas.