Dodgers lineup: Has spring training been extended?

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You know, they have rules about playing a minimum number of regulars in these spring training games.

What, this one actually counts? Could have fooled me with Thursday’s Dodgers lineup. Or that Pittsburgh crowd. Nothing like a 2-0 start to get the locals excited.

But the Dodgers enter the third game with only three regulars in their lineup -- James Loney, Matt Kemp and Rafael Furcal.

Manager Joe Torre has never been afraid of massive, all-at-once lineup changes, but this one seems a stretch even by his standards.

Torre, however, had a reasonable explanation for each move.

Casey Blake, Manny Ramirez and Blake DeWitt were all scheduled to have the day off. Blake and Ramirez because of the day game after a night game, and DeWitt because the Dodgers were facing a left-hander.

Torre said in his pregame that Andre Ethier was out because he injured his ankle on a pickoff attempt at first on Wednesday.

‘He rolled his left ankle,’ Torre said. ‘I don’t know about his availability for tomorrow. He’s got swelling in there and some discomfort.’

Russell Martin, encouragingly coming off his opposite-field home run, was scheduled to start. However, because of Wednesday’s extra innings and Martin not getting a full spring in because of a groin injury, Torre decided to rest him.

Turns out, three regulars matches the MLB minimum.

-- Steve Dilbeck