Yasiel Puig, Clayton Kershaw to play in Dodgers’ exhibition opener

PHOENIX – Yasiel Puig and other starting position players will be on the field for five innings Wednesday in the Dodgers’ exhibition opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Clayton Kershaw will pitch two innings, which will be followed by a simulated inning in the bullpen.

Puig will play right field and bat third. Manager Don Mattingly is considering batting Puig leadoff this season, but said there’s no urgency to slot him there at this stage.

Left fielder Carl Crawford, third baseman Juan Uribe and second baseman Alex Guerrero will also play Wednesday.

Hanley Ramirez, Adrian Gonzalez, Andre Ethier and A.J. Ellis won’t make the trip to Scottsdale. They are scheduled to play Thursday, when the Dodgers host the Diamondbacks in Phoenix.

Projected everyday players will play two consecutive days, then take a day off.

Mattingly insisted the Dodgers don’t have any problems with the Diamondbacks, with whom they brawled last season.

Asked if the Dodgers were ready to rumble, Mattingly replied: “No, not ready to rumble. Ready to see if we’re ready to play.”