Dodgers: Saturday pregame notes

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GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Hiroki Kuroda, who was scheduled to start today against the Cleveland Indians, stayed at Camelback Ranch to pitch in a triple-A game because Manager Joe Torre wanted to use the big-league game to evaluate other pitchers. Replacing Kuroda as the starter is James McDonald, who has a spring earned-run average of 7.71 but is nonetheless being looked at as a rotation candidate.

Manny Ramirez said he expects to return to game action Monday when the Dodgers visit the Angels in Tempe. ‘I feel like I’m 20 years old,’ Ramirez said.

Reminded that he recently said he felt old, Ramirez replied, ‘Yeah, but now I feel young.’

The Dodgers’ lineup today:
Rafael Furcal SS
Orlando Hudson 2B
Russell Martin C
Casey Blake 3B
Doug Mientkiewicz 1B
Juan Pierre CF
Valentino Pascucci DH
Mitch Jones LF
Jason Repko RF
James McDonald RHP

-- Dylan Hernandez