PHOENIX -- Dodgers reliever Pedro Baez is nursing a bruised right thumb that will set him back a few more days, but X-rays were negative.
Baez took a comebacker off the lower part of the thumb while throwing live batting practice earlier in the week, causing him to miss a bullpen session on Friday. By Sunday, he was playing catch with other pitchers, but he was throwing at about half-speed.
Baez has been a solid contributor out of the Dodgers' bullpen for the past three seasons. He registered a 3.04 ERA in 73 appearances last season and is expected to be a key reliever again in 2017.
Worth noting
• Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Julio Urias will start on Tuesday, as the club seems to be leaning toward opening the season with the 20-year-old in the starting rotation making shorter starts instead of stashing him in extended spring training to limit his innings.
• Roberts said Clayton Kershaw came out of his Saturday start healthy. He added either Hyun-Jin Ryu or Scott Kazmir could make their first spring starts on Wednesday.
• Starter Brandon McCarthy and reliever Adam Liberatore threw live batting practice on Sunday and will likely appear next in a Cactus League game.
• A large contingent of the Dodgers' front office watched prospect Walker Buehler throw a bullpen session on Sunday. The Minor League staff has been raving about Buehler, a first-round pick in the 2015 Draft out of Vanderbilt who had Tommy John surgery shortly after signing. He pitched in only three games last year.
Buehler, 22, is a slender right-hander, not unlike Zack Greinke, but he is already showing greater velocity.
• Eric Gagne threw another bullpen session on Sunday. Gagne, 41, is tuning up for Team Canada's World Baseball Classic appearance, while considering a Major League comeback.