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

Former Cy Young winner Eric Gagne’s comeback will continue at Minor League camp after he was among the seven players the Dodgers moved out of the Major League clubhouse.

 

In addition to Gagne, the Dodgers optioned pitched 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 slowed by a sore shoulder and a 20.25 ERA.

 

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

Dodgers outfielder Xavier Paul left Sunday’s game in Taiwan in the bottom of the seventh inning when he experienced a nose bleed after sneezing while playing center field. Paul said he was fine afterward and did not expect to miss any playing time. — Ken Gurnick

Hong-Chih Kuo has been scratched from his scheduled start Sunday in Taiwan with a sore elbow, ruining the chance to pitch in his homeland for the Dodgers. Kuo, who has had four elbow operations, including two Tommy John reconstructions, said he experienced some soreness during his perfect inning in Tuesday’s exhibition game in Arizona and again during a bullpen session Friday, after which he notified the team training staff. He will be shut down indefinitely. — Ken Gurnick

After waiting for more than two hours, officials cancelled Saturday’s sold-out exhibition game in Taipei between the Dodgers and the Chinese Professional Baseball League All-Stars. The game will not be made up, as the series finale is scheduled for Sunday in Kaohsiung, 150 miles south of Taipei. The Dodgers will fly back to Arizona immediately following Sunday’s game. — Ken Gurnick

The Dodgers game in Taiwan, scheduled to start at 10:07 p.m. (PT), will be delayed by rain that has been falling for more than three hours and is expected to last at least another hour. The soldout game at Tienmu Stadium is the second of a three-game series against the Chinese Professional Baseball League All-Stars. The first two games were scheduled for Taipei, with Sunday’s series finale at Kaohsiung County Stadium. — Ken Gurnick

One day after manager Joe Torre said he wouldn’t run 40-year-old catcher Brad Ausmus “into the ground” in the absence of the injured Russell Martin, Ausmus said he needs no special attention.

“I’m in just as good a shape now as I was when I caught every day,” Ausmus said. “I’m not worried about how much playing time I can handle. I know my bat has slowed  down and my arm is not as quick as it once was, but physically I don’t have a lot of aches and pains.

“If Joe asks me to play every day, I can play every day. If he asks me to play no days, I’ll play no days. Neither concerns me or anything in between. The important thing is winning games and it’s Joe’s call. I’ll never tell a manager I need time off.”

Torre hasn’t ruled out Ausmus emerging as the primary catcher while Martin expected to miss Opening Day because of a pulled groin muscle. A.J. Ellis will share time with Ausmus this Spring.

“We had a little discussion and I told Brad my plan is to get him enough work and by the time Spring Training is over, we’ll figure out the breakdown,” Torre said. — Ken Gurnick