Saunders will pitch, not hit, against Dodgers

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Turns out Joe Saunders will be making the trip to Camelback Ranch after all.

Early Monday morning, the Angels posted a lineup for their road game with the Dodgers that had Matt Palmer starting and left-hander Saunders, the scheduled starter, staying back to pitch in a camp game. Pitching Coach Mike Butcher explained that there were many factors that went into that decision, but a major one was the fact that, pitching in a National League park, Saunders would be required to bat against the Dodgers. In a camp game, that wouldn’t be a problem.

But then, shortly before the team took the field for batting practice, another lineup was posted. This one with Saunders starting against the Dodgers and Jeff Mathis batting ninth as the designated hitter.

Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said the Dodgers called unexpectedly and offered to let them use the DH in the Dodgers ballpark, which under the relaxed rules of spring training wasn’t all that unusual. The Angels immediately accepted the offer, and now Palmer will stay back at the Tempe complex to pitch the camp game.

Saunders said it made no difference to him.

‘I just work here,’ he said.

As for Hideki Matsui, who will be playing in the field for the first time since June 2008, Scioscia said he expected to keep him in the outfield for at least four innings. Same for shortstop Erick Aybar, who has been plagued by arm troubles all spring.

Here’s the revised Angels lineup:

SS -- Aybar

RF -- Abreu

CF -- Hunter

LF -- Matsui

1B -- Morales

2B -- Kendrick

C -- Napoli

3B -- Wood

DH -- Mathis

P -- Saunders

-- Kevin Baxter in Tempe, Ariz.