March 29--REPORTING FROM PHOENIX -- The Dodgers expect Corey Seager to play on Thursday night in the first game of the preseason Freeway Series against the Angels, Manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday. Seager will join his teammates at Dodger Stadium after not appearing in a major-league game since spraining his left knee on March 12.
Seager played six innings on Monday in a minor-league game and was scheduled to do the same on Tuesday. He will rest on Wednesday before returning to the big-league schedule.
Roberts also sounded optimistic about catcher Yasmani Grandal, who has been sidelined with inflammation in his right forearm. Grandal is scheduled to play on Saturday at Angels Stadium, and Roberts said he felt his prime catcher could be ready for opening day.
Grandal was cleared to throw and take some swings on Monday.
"It was a step in the right direction," Roberts said. "He came in feeling better today, pretty good after yesterday. And we're going to ramp up the workload today."
Unlike Grandal, Howie Kendrick (calf tightness) is not expected to appear in the Freeway Series. The Dodgers will leave him in Arizona through the weekend, as he has yet to be cleared to take the field. It appears likely that Kendrick will begin the season on the disabled list, eligible to be activated on April 9.
"Today's better than yesterday," Roberts said. "But we still don't have him out there doing baseball activities. But we're encouraged that today he feels better."
Andy.mccullough@latimes.com
Twitter: @McCulloughTimes
