Dodgers heading home after Cactus League finale

by Ron Gutterman

The Dodgers’ time at Camelback Ranch in 2023 is over.

Their month-long stay came to an end on Saturday following a 6–3 loss to the Kansas City Royals. They finished 13–11 with four ties in Cactus League play.

LA begins a three-game Freeway Series exhibition against the Angels on Sunday, March 26, in Chavez Ravine.

The Dodgers will face the Angels one time at Dodger Stadium — Sunday at 6:10 p.m. PST— and two times at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Monday and Tuesday at 6:07 p.m. PST.

This series will be the last of the spring for the Dodgers before the 2023 regular season begins on Thursday, March 30 against the Diamondbacks.

Dustin May got the start against the Royals on Saturday afternoon, his last before March 31, the second game of the regular season.

He allowed four runs — three earned — on six hits with four strikeouts and no walks.

Non-roster invite outfielder Jason Heyward — with a single — and Dodger №9 prospect James Outman — with a double — put together a rally that would result in two Dodger runs. LA trailed 3–2 after this third-inning flurry.

Dodger №4 prospect Michael Busch hit the Dodgers’ only home run of the afternoon in the seventh inning, a solo shot. This cut the Royals’ lead to 5–3.

Andre Jackson pitched 2 1/3 innings in relief and allowed one run on two hits with two punch-outs and one walk.

Manager Dave Roberts and the Dodgers have made a series of announcements over the last three days detailing some of the team’s final roster decisions.

Heyward and Outman earned the final two position player roster spots, Roberts said Thursday. They join an outfield unit of Mookie Betts, Chris Taylor, Trayce Thompson and David Peralta.

The fifth spot in the opening starting rotation was given to №6 Dodger prospect and №70 overall prospect Ryan Pepiot.

He replaces Tony Gonsolin, who will be placed on the injured list to begin the season due to a sprained left ankle. Roberts announced the Gonsolin news on March 17.

The final Dodger rotation to begin the season is — in order — Julio Urías, May, Clayton Kershaw, Noah Syndergaard and Pepiot.

Jackson — the 26-year-old right-hander — will be on the Opening Day roster as a reliever.

Reliever Wander Suero and outfielders Bradley Zimmer and Steven Duggar were reassigned to minor league camp following Saturday’s game.

Several players — including some that received limited playing time due to their appearance in the World Baseball Classic — had strong springs.

First baseman Freddie Freeman led the Dodgers in home runs with three. He batted 10-for-29 with two doubles and 11 RBI. Betts homered twice and only struck out twice in 16 plate appearances.

Two of LA’s final roster additions earned their spots with impressive springs.

Outman batted .286/.379/.531/.910 with two home runs, four doubles and one triple in 49 plate appearances.

Pepiot allowed just five earned runs with 19 strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings of work. New Dodger Syndergaard allowed 11 baserunners in 13 2/3 innings.

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