Alomar Will Probably Start the Opener

Dioner Navarro represents the present at catcher and Russell Martin is only an eye blink behind, but Sandy Alomar Jr. is the Dodger most likely to be behind the plate opening day.

Manager Grady Little said Wednesday that it would be a “longshot” for Navarro’s strained hamstring to have recovered sufficiently for him to begin the season on the roster.

“We’ve got to make sure he’s 100%,” Little said.

Martin, who has not played above double A, would take his place, but Little is reluctant to have him start amid the opening-day hoopla at Dodger Stadium. Alomar is a 19-year veteran and six-time All-Star.

“There are a lot of benefits to that,” Little said.

A player can be put on the 15-day disabled list five days before opening day, meaning Martin probably would remain on the roster through the first road trip and catch most of the games.

Navarro, meanwhile, would play in a handful of minor league rehabilitation games at Las Vegas, which opens its season April 6.

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The Dodgers lost to the New York Mets, 2-1. The winning run came with two out in the ninth on a double by Lastings Milledge against left-hander Hong-Chih Kuo. Both Met runs followed errors by third baseman Willy Aybar.