Dodgers roster in flux to start the season

Sizing up the Dodgers’ 25-man roster for opening day:

STARTERS

No.; Name; Pos.; B/T; Age; Comment

25; CARL CRAWFORD; LF; L/L; 31; Looking to rebound from the two worst years of his career.

14; MARK ELLIS; 2B; R/R; 35; Dependable veteran provides stability in the middle of the infield.

27; MATT KEMP; CF; R/R; 28; Recovering from shoulder surgery; one of baseball’s best players when healthy.

23; ADRIAN GONZALEZ; 1B; L/L; 30; Might not be the home-run threat he used to be, but a good bet to hit close to .300 and drive in 100 runs.

16; ANDRE ETHIER; RF; L/L; 30; Working with hitting coach Mark McGwire to improve approach against left-handers.

47; LUIS CRUZ; 3B; R/R; 29; Out to prove that his fairytale-like 21/2 months in 2012 weren’t a fluke.

17; A.J. ELLIS; C; R/R; 31; Trusted game-caller might be the most patient hitter in the game.

72; JUSTIN SELLERS; SS; R/R; 27; Light-hitting slick fielder could be an option at shortstop if Dodgers make defense the priority.

PITCHING ROTATION

No.; Name; B/T; Age; Comment

22; CLAYTON KERSHAW; L/L; 25; The unquestioned ace of an increasingly deep staff.

99; HYUN-JIN RYU; R/L; 26; $62.5 million investment will become the first player to go directly from the Korean league to the majors.

61; JOSH BECKETT; R/R; 32; Former flamethrower is attempting to reinvent himself as a command pitcher.

21; ZACK GREINKE; R/R; 29; Last winter’s top free-agent pitcher battled a bruised elbow in spring training.

BULLPEN

No.; Name; B/T; Age; Comment

31; BRANDON LEAGUE; R/R; 30; Signed to a three-year, $22.5 million deal, he will start the season as the closer.

74; KENLEY JANSEN; S/R; 25; Future closer recovering from an off-season heart operation.

51; RONALD BELISARIO; R/R; 30; Former problem player might have the best stuff on the team.

56; J.P. HOWELL; L/L; 20; The only left-hander in the bullpen.

55; MATT GUERRIER; R/R; 34; Arm trouble limited him to 16 appearances last season.

35; CHRIS CAPUANO; L/L; 34; Crowded rotation will force this solid starter to the bullpen; a trade candidate.

41; AARON HARANG; R/R; 34; In the same situation as Capuano.

77; KEVIN GREGG; R/R; 34; Veteran reliever has made 63 or more appearances in five of last six seasons.

75; PACO RODRIGUEZ; L/L; 21; First player in the entire 2012 draft class to reach the major leagues.

RESERVES

No.; Name; Pos.; B/T; Age; Comment

18; TIM FEDEROWICZ; C; R/R; 25; Rookie has drawn praise for his work behind the plate.

5; JUAN URIBE; 1B/3B; R/R; 34; A .199 hitter over the last two years attempting to salvage his career.

3; SKIP SCHUMAKER; UT; L/R; 33; Acquired at insistence of McGwire; can play infield and outfield.

7; NICK PUNTO; UT; S/R; 35; Will share time at third base with Hairston and Uribe; could also fill in at shortstop.

6; JERRY HAIRSTON JR.; 3B; R/R; 36; Veteran utilityman will be one of three players to share third base until Hanley Ramirez returns.

DISABLED LIST

Chad Billingsley, RHP; Hanley Ramirez, SS; Ted Lilly, LHP; Scott Elbert, LHP.