Worth noting

• Right-hander Garrett Richards will start Friday against the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, with left-hander Tyler Skaggs opening Saturday at Angel Stadium.

"Right now, we're pitching much better than we did at any time last spring," Scioscia said. "Having pitching like that gives us more confidence when we turn the page."

He credited pitching coach Mike Butcher with a slightly different approach to readying the pitchers this spring.

"He went at it at whatever pace the pitcher could go at," Scioscia said. "With our bullpen, in particular, it was a much more aggressive approach."

• Freese was back in the lineup at third base against the Dodgers after being scratched Tuesday because of quadriceps tightness.