Pinch-hitter candidate Brian Giles had three hits and John Lindsey a home run, but the player that impressed manager Joe Torre the most in the morning “B” game with the White Sox Monday was 22-year-old right-hander Josh Lindblom with two scoreless innings. Lindblom made an unexpected run at a roster spot late last Spring, but general manager Ned Colletti prevailed and kept Lindblom in the Minor Leagues all season.

“Am I allowed to say it with my general manager around,” Torre asked, after naming Lindblom as the player that caught his eye. “He’s pretty simple to watch. His ball explodes at the end with something on it.”

Fifth-starter candidate Scott Elbert allowed three runs in two innings. Travis Schlichting and Javy Guerra pitched effective single innings and centerfielder Trayvon Robinson made a diving catch. The Dodgers hit into four double-plays. — Ken Gurnick

 

Reliever Cory Wade on Sunday said he was fine, but manager Joe Torre said Monday that Wade had a an injection in his chronically sore shoulder “three days ago” after an MRI revealed no structural damage and is “shut down for two weeks.”

It’s the second consecutive Spring that Wade has come up sore. — Ken Gurnick

One of the more familiar names in the Dodgers Minor League camp is right-handed pitcher Seth Etherton, a first-round pick of the Angels in 1998 who signed for $1.075 million. Etherton has since played with four teams in the Major Leagues, going a combined 9-7 with a 6.30 ERA. But the former USC star also was in independent ball in 2008 and Triple-A for Arizona last year. He’s 33 and last played in the Majors in 2006. Other former Major Leaguers in Minor League camp include Timo Perez and John Koronka. — Ken Gurnick

Rain washed out the Dodgers’ exhibition game against the Cubs Sunday, so scheduled starter Clayton Kershaw instead will follow starter Chad Billingsley to the mound Monday against the Giants in Scottsdale. After the two starters, Rule 5 pick Carlos Monasterios is likely to pitch. Also on the trip will be Josh Towers, Jon Link, Juan Perez and Francisco Felix.

The Dodgers also have scheduled a morning “B” game against the White Sox to pick up some of the innings lost Sunday. Among the pitchers in that game will be Scott Elbert, Josh Lindblom, Ramon Troncoso, Travis Schlichting, Kenley Jansen, Javy Guerra and Rule 5 pick Armando Zerpa. — Ken Gurnick

 

Dodgers catcher Russell Martin said he has “a little strain” in his lower abdomen on the right side, but he’s unsure how long he’ll be sidelined.

 

Martin underwent an MRI Saturday that he said ruled out anything more serious.

 

“They said I have a little strain somewhere, either the lower abdomen or the groin area in the muscles that connect the hip, abdomen and groin,” said Martin.

— Ken Gurnick 

Three contenders for the Dodgers’ fifth starter job saw action Saturday, with mixed results.

Eric Stults and Russ Ortiz threw a pair of scoreless innings each against the White Sox, but James McDonald was charged with three runs on five hits in two innings as he struggled with command of his off-speed pitches.

Swingman Jeff Weaver, who missed three days of workouts for the birth of his son, was charged with three runs on four hits and the loss in his first game action. — Ken Gurnick

Hall of Fame Manager and Special Advisor to the Chairman Tommy Lasorda will be inducted into the Cuban Sports Hall of Fame in Miami Sunday, his 16th Hall of Fame induction.  Lasorda played for Almendares and Marianao during Winter Ball in Cuba in the 1950s.  Lasorda joins Dodger Special Advisor to the GM, Latin American Operations Ralph Avila (1996) and Dodger scout Mike Brito (2005) in the Cuban Sports HOF. — Ken Gurnick

General manager Ned Colletti said newly signed pinch-hitter Garret Anderson did not arrive as scheduled Friday because of car problems, but was expected in Arizona Friday night and at practice Saturday. Anderson was signed Wednesday night to a Minor League contract and is the presumed front-runner for the left-handed pinch-hitting job, with Brian Giles and Doug Mientkiewicz the other candidates. Mientkiewicz had an RBI double and a walk in Friday’s exhibition opener. Giles did not play.

Anderson will wear No. 00, although Andre Ethier offered to give up his No. 16, saying Anderson had worn it for 16 years. — Ken Gurnick 

Fourth starter Vicente Padilla tossed two perfect innings and was followed by Ramon Ortiz’s two scoreless innings in the Dodgers’ 8-3 win over the White Sox in Friday’s exhibition opener. It was Padilla’s first game action since he was accidentally shot in the thigh during the offseason.

Manager Joe Torre also had praise for reliever Jon Link, who threw a perfect ninth inning. Link came to the Dodgers in the Juan Pierre trade and could work his way into contention for a bullpen role.

Offensively, Manny Ramirez had two singles in three at-bats, Reed Johnson had two RBIs and Jamey Carroll had two steals and a bases-loaded walk. Torre said Ramirez appeared to have balance at the plate “I didn’t see after he came back (from suspension) last year.”

Jason Repko came out of the game after being hit on the left wrist with a pitch, but afterward said he was fine. — Ken Gurnick

Now that the Dodgers have signed free agent Garret Anderson, the next unemployed veteran they are waiting out is right-handed pitcher Braden Looper, whose agent, Alan Hendricks, was making the rounds at Camelback Ranch-Glendale Thursday.

Looper was in the original foursome the Dodgers targeted over the winter for an innings-eating fourth starter – the others were Vicente Padilla, Joel Piniero and Jon Garland. When the music stopped, Piniero had signed a two-year deal with the Angels, the Dodgers had signed Padilla, Garland was taken by the Padres and Looper was left out of the loop.

Hendricks said Looper – 14-7 with a 5.22 ERA last year in Milwaukee — is doing all he can to stay in shape at home near Chicago, waiting for an acceptable offer.

The Dodgers now view Looper as a possible fifth-starter solution, but intend to pay him as one. They have no Major League roster spot available and apparently are willing to give Looper only a non-guaranteed Minor League contract.

Currently, the fifth starter spot is up for grabs among Eric Stults, Scott Elbert, James McDonald, Charlie Haeger, Carlos Monasterios, Ramon Ortiz and Russ Ortiz. — Ken Gurnick