The Dodgers cut three more players Saturday, most notably pitcher James McDonald, who spent most of last season in the Major Leagues.

 

Also optioned to Minor League camp were reliever Jon Link and catcher Lucas May. Link was acquired in the Juan Pierre trade that impressed manager Joe Torre with his aggressive approach. May is a promising switch-hitting catcher who hit .306 at Double-A Chattanooga last year.

 

For McDonald, the demotion was another blow in a dreadful spring and his fate was sealed when he allowed six runs in 1 1/3 innings Friday night against the Padres. After the game and long after the clubhouse cleared, McDonald was still sitting in front of his locker, in uniform, head in hands. — Ken Gurnick

Dodgers manager Joe Torre again delayed announcing his Opening Day starting pitcher Saturday afternoon, this time saying it would come sometime after Tuesday’s day off.

The Dodgers apparently are focused on narrowing down their large list of fifth starters and might need to juggle their current rotation order of starters — Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Hiroki Kuroda and Vicente Padilla — to get the fifth-starter candidates enough innings for management to cut down the list. — Ken Gurnick

In a late switch, manager Joe Torre announced that Josh Towers would start Saturday afternoon’s game against the Rangers instead of Ramon Ortiz, who will follow Towers to the mound.

“We just flipped them,” said Torre.

Both non-roster pitchers have a chance at the fifth starter spot. Ortiz is considered more likely, although Towers is a former 13-game winner who also started last Sunday in Taiwan. — Ken Gurnick

Dodgers manager Joe Torre said he would announce his Opening Day starting pitcher before Saturday night’s exhibition game with the Padres. — Ken Gurnick

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