Errors are still a problem on defense

It was as if the satchel of gloves from the 1940s that pitcher Eric Stults brought into the locker room to be signed by teammates Sunday had been distributed to the current players before their split-squad games against the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals.

The Dodgers made three errors in a 4-1 loss to the Braves at Holman Stadium and two errors in a 6-2 loss to the Nationals at Viera, Fla., giving the team nine errors in five games.

Shortstops and third basemen can be blamed for all but two of the miscues, including errors by third baseman Fernando Tatis and shortstops Ramon Martinez and Ivan DeJesus on Sunday.

“It doesn’t seem to matter who we put on that side of the infield,” Manager Grady Little said. “But this will pass.”

How can he be sure?

“Nobody is this bad,” he said, laughing.

Caution flag

Shortstop Rafael Furcal hasn’t been guilty of errors because he hasn’t played the last three days. His throwing shoulder is sore and the Dodgers will give him at least two more days off.

The Dodgers travel across the state to Fort Myers to play the Boston Red Sox today and the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday. All healthy players will appear in at least one of the games except Jeff Kent and Luis Gonzalez.

Rapid climb

How highly regarded a prospect is reliever John Meloan? The Dodgers nearly promoted him to the major leagues last September even though he had only five appearances at double A.

Meloan, a right-hander who was 24-4 from 2003 to 2005 at the University of Arizona, was brought to L.A. for a physical, but team doctors suggested he cut his season short because his elbow showed signs of fatigue.

“There was a chance I was going to join the team, and that was a boost in itself,” Meloan said. “I find myself saying I can play at this level.”

Meloan was dominant at three levels last season, beginning the season at low Class-A Columbus, Ga., moving up to high Class-A Vero Beach and finishing at double-A Jacksonville. He struck out 91 and walked only 15 in 52 2/3 innings.

The Dodgers say he probably will begin the season as the closer at Jacksonville and could move up quickly to triple A and Dodger Stadium.

He pitched a scoreless inning in his first Grapefruit League appearance, walking the first batter he faced on four pitches before retiring the next three on five pitches.

“That was a good example of what a lot of players do in their first spring training game,” Little said.

“They try to throw 120 mph and walk the first guy. Then, he relaxed and got quick three outs.”

Rotation nation

Although Jason Schmidt and Brad Penny are set to begin the season as the Nos. 3 and 4 starters behind Derek Lowe and Randy Wolf, the Dodgers eventually would like to separate Schmidt and Penny because both are hard throwers.

“In the best of all worlds, we wouldn’t have them facing the same team on consecutive days,” pitching coach Rick Honeycutt said. “With off days, we’ll keep adjusting.”

Honeycutt said there were two reasons behind the decision to have Schmidt miss a three-game series at San Francisco and instead pitch the home opener against the Colorado Rockies the next day.

Facing his former Giants teammates “could be a distraction,” Honeycutt said. “But it was more about giving him the home opener.”

Getting closer

Closer Takashi Saito threw 25 pitches in a simulated game and is scheduled to make his first Grapefruit League appearance Wednesday. The Dodgers have been cautious with Saito because he reported to camp with a sore right calf.... Reliever Yhency Brazoban has been throwing from a mound and remains on target for a June return from elbow ligament replacement surgery.

steve.henson@latimes.com