4 things to keep an eye on as Dodgers open spring slate

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- For the first time this year, it's time for Dodgers baseball.

The back-to-back champions open their Cactus League slate against the Angels on Saturday afternoon at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Several regulars are expected to suit up for the opener, including Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani, Will Smith, Teoscar Hernández and Andy Pages. The following day, Kyle Tucker is expected to make his Dodgers spring debut against the Padres at Peoria Sports Complex.

With an abridged timeline for the players participating in the World Baseball Classic and a full-length spring for the others, there are plenty of intriguing Dodgers storylines to follow. Here are the biggest things to watch as Cactus League play begins:

Who's on second?

With utility man Tommy Edman confirmed to be out for Opening Day, the situation at second base is fluid. Miguel Rojas is likely to see a fair amount of time there, but the Dodgers could use this spring to find him a left-handed platoon partner.

This presents a valuable opportunity for Hyeseong Kim and Alex Freeland. Kim, who is entering his second Major League season after previously starring in the KBO, is a slick defender with questions remaining about his bat. Freeland, who ended last year as MLB Pipeline's No. 4 Dodgers prospect, showed promise but did not hit well in a brief taste of big league action.

The Dodgers might get to see a little more of Freeland this spring, as Kim will depart before the end of the month to join Team Korea for the World Baseball Classic. Freeland could take that opportunity and run with it, but Kim's versatility could give him an edge as the Dodgers figure out how to replace Edman.

ABS strategy

The Dodgers experienced the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System in action last spring, but they'll have to lock down their strategy for it this year, when it will be implemented into regular-season games.

Before games begin, manager Dave Roberts feels comfortable with his catchers challenging pitches. He thinks certain hitters could use the system to their advantage as well. The biggest question mark might be the pitchers.

"I would say not a hard-and-fast rule," Roberts said Friday, "but I do think that … the catcher should have a better idea than a pitcher. But if the pitcher does it, I'd like to think he's right. He'd better be right."

Rotation configuration

The Dodgers' projected six-man rotation should be a force to be reckoned with, but there are a couple of big questions to open the season: Will Blake Snell be ready in time for Opening Day, and how stretched out will Ohtani be?

Snell has been playing catch out to about 90 feet, but at this point, it would be very surprising if he ramps up in time for the regular season. Justin Wrobleski is a top candidate to slot into the rotation in his place, with Gavin Stone, River Ryan and Landon Knack also potentially in the mix.

Ohtani is fully expecting to begin the season in the rotation, but he has limited time to build up as a pitcher while representing Samurai Japan exclusively as a hitter in the World Baseball Classic. Off-days early in the season could allow for the Dodgers to begin the year with a five-man rotation, so they could use someone like Wrobleski in long relief behind Ohtani while keeping him available to start once the schedule calls for a six-man rotation.

Who rounds out the 'pen?

Once the rotation is sorted out, the Dodgers' season-opening bullpen should become clearer. Wrobleski is also a relief option, so if he begins the year in the rotation, that would ostensibly open another spot.

As things stand, the bullpen locks should be Edwin Díaz, Tanner Scott, Blake Treinen and Alex Vesia. Brock Stewart, Brusdar Graterol and Evan Phillips will all begin the year on the injured list. That leaves pitchers such as Ben Casparius, Jack Dreyer, Edgardo Henriquez, Kyle Hurt, Will Klein, Ronan Kopp and Wrobleski as the leading options for the final four spots.