Worth noting

• Johnson has decided to start reliever Tyler Clippard slowly. Clippard will not appear in the first four games of the exhibition season. According to Johnson, Clippard thought he started last Spring Training too quickly.

"He didn't feel right when he started," Johnson said. "He just wanted to back it off a little bit. It about an individual knowing what he needs and when he needs it to be ready for Opening Day."

• Johnson said he hoped to have right-hander Chris Young pitch his first game of the exhibition season against the Cardinals on March 9.