Dodgers spring training live updates: Latest news and analysis

Clayton Kershaw throws during the first day of spring training workouts for Dodgers pitchers and catchers Thursday in Arizona.

(Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press)

PHOENIX — Clayton Kershaw isn’t going to play in the World Baseball Classic after all.

The future Hall of Famer left-hander made the announcement at Friday’s Dodgers spring training session, calling the development “super disappointing” after preparing for the event for the past three months.

Although Kershaw declined to give specific reasons for his inability to attend, people with knowledge of the situation, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said the pitcher had a problem getting the insurance coverage needed for the event . His back injury history was a significant factor, people said.

“We tried a lot of different things, from all sides, really trying to make it work,” Kershaw explained while standing in front of his locker at the team’s Camelback Ranch complex. “There’s nothing wrong with me. It just didn’t work. I really wanted to do it.”

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Dave Roberts said the Dodgers saw a “surge” in Noah Syndergaard’s speed during his bullpen session this week.

Roberts didn’t say exactly what he was up to during his meeting with reporters on Friday morning, but said it was before Syndergaard at that point last spring.

Returning to the speed he had before Tommy John’s surgery is a goal he spoke about after signing with the Dodgers in December.

Dodgers catcher Patrick Mazeika prepares his bat for batting practice during spring practice at Camelback Ranch in Arizona Thursday.

(Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press)

Exactly four months after their disastrous exit in last year’s postseason, the Dodgers will begin a new hike that they hope will end differently this October.

Despite significant roster changes, questions at several key positions, and the likely influx of a younger core throughout 2023, the Dodgers still go into this new season with expectations for the World Series.

Both Baseball Prospectus and FanGraphs predict the team will top the National League West rankings (although the latter is tied with the San Diego Padres). Most odds makers give them the shortest chances of winning the NL pennant. And anything less than a championship will likely feel like a failure for a franchise with just one World Series title from its 10-year playoff streak.

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A giant American flag covers the field at Dodger Stadium before the Dodgers’ 2022 home game against the Cincinnati Reds.

(Jack Harris / Los Angeles Times)

The Dodgers put up tickets for opening day and the series against the New York Yankees on sale Thursday.

If you just want to get into the stadium and are willing to sit in one of the cheap seats – well, depending on how you define cheap, none of the available seats are considered cheap.

For opening day – March 30 against the Arizona Diamondbacks – tickets sold on the team’s website Thursday morning ranged in price from $90 to $402.

For the Yankees series on June 2-4, tickets ranged from $72-$297 for the Friday 7 p.m. game, $70-$310 for the Saturday 4 p.m. game, and $64-$216 – Dollars for Sunday’s 4 p.m. game.

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Mookie Betts watches the Dodgers’ batting practice on Oct. 7.

(Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press)

PHOENIX — Mookie Betts’ visit to Driveline this offseason wasn’t his own idea.

“My employer told me I had to go,” Betts said of his winter trip to the prestigious baseball training center. “That’s how I ended up going there.”

In the end, however, he had brought an important insight with him.

“That I just need to gather some strength,” he said. “Keep playing the game I played. Just get a little stronger.”

Given Driveline’s track record of using advanced data and sports science to help players make fundamental changes to their game, and Bett’s productive but volatile play throughout the 2022 season, it might seem like simple advice.

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