Dodgers manager Joe Torre said he will announce his Opening Day starting pitcher on Saturday. Clayton Kershaw is considered the most likely choice. — Ken Gurnick

The Dodgers optioned pitcher Javy Guerra to Minor League camp Friday, reducing the number of players in camp to 46. That includes Cory Wade, who will be disabled following shoulder surgery, and Ronald Belisario, who will be placed on the restricted list because he’s still AWOL with visa problems. — Ken Gurnick

Several fifth starter candidates get their chances in the next few days. Ramon Ortiz goes Saturday against Texas. Eric Stults will pitch Sunday against Cleveland. Russ Ortiz is scheduled to start one of two split-squad games Monday. — Ken Gurnick

Dodgers manager Joe Torre said he spoke by phone Friday with Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully, who was released from a hospital earlier in the day.

“He’s fine,” said Torre. “He’s had a cold. He jumped up from bed quickly, got a little dizzy.”

Scully fell, hit his head and was hospitalized overnight for observation. He is expected to broadcast the Dodgers game Sunday.

“He sounded perfectly normal,” Torre said. “Same personality.” — Ken Gurnick

Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez slugged his first home run of the spring Thursday, taking Cubs starter Ryan Dempster deep to left-center in the first inning. Ramirez also is playing the outfield for the first time this spring. — Ken Gurnick

Dodgers manager Joe Torre said that reliever Hong-Chih Kuo, who came out of a bullpen session Wednedsay with no elbow issue, will pitch in a game Friday. It will be his first game appearance since being scratched from a start in Taiwan Sunday because of elbow discomfort. — Ken Gurnick

Manager Joe Torre said he hasn’t yet “anointed” Blake DeWitt the Opening Day second baseman and he intends to announce his Opening Day starter later this week. All signs, however, point to the club opening the season with DeWitt as the primary second baseman, with Jamey Carroll starting against left-handed pitching. Torre noted that DeWitt has yet to have a double-play opportunity. As for the Opening Day starter, the current spring rotation indicates that it will be Clayton Kershaw. — Ken Gurnick

Manny Ramirez gets his first start in left field this spring in today’s Dodgers game against the Cubs at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Ramirez has been exclusively a designated hitter this spring. — Ken Gurnick

Dodgers reliever Hong-Chih Kuo said he felt “fine” after a 25-pitch bullpen session, the first time he’s thrown off a mound since experiencing elbow pain last week that led to his scratch from a Sunday start in Taiwan.

“I threw hard, I always throw as hard as I can,” said Kuo. “I’m not worried.”

That’s literally a relief to the Dodgers, who still are without right-handed set-up man Ronald Belisario. He remains stuck in Venezuela with visa problems. The Los Angeles Times reported that Belisario’s driving under the influence case, which supposedly was the cause of his delay, had been cleared up by pleading guilty to a lesser charge. The the Dodgers still had no timetable for the pitcher’s arrival. — Ken Gurnick

Former Cy Young winner Eric Gagne told MLB.com that he will accept a Minor League assignment and continue his comeback after he was among six players the Dodgers moved out of the Major League clubhouse Monday.

In addition to Gagne, the Dodgers optioned pitcher Scott Elbert and reassigned pitcher Scott Dohmann, outfielder Michael Restovich and  infielder John Lindsey. Elbert had been in the running for the fifth starter job, but had been hampered by a sore shoulder early in camp and a 20.25 ERA more recently.

The Dodgers also returned left-handed Rule 5 pick Armando Zerpa to the Boston organization.

In a text message, Gagne said he would accept the Minor League assignment as part of the comeback process.

“I’m on my way back,” he wrote. “I knew it wasn’t gonna be easy. But I’m gonna go down there and work my butt off and be ready if they need help!! Long season.” — Ken Gurnick