'Amped up' Font stumbles in bid for bullpen

MESA, Ariz. -- Wilmer Font pitched himself into contention for a Dodgers bullpen role in his first two starts this spring, but he might have pitched himself out of it Tuesday, when he couldn't get out of a six-run first inning of a 9-5 loss to the Cubs.
"He seemed a little amped up and didn't have command," manager Dave Roberts said. "He didn't get ahead of hitters, worked behind, missed over the plate and not a lot of good things will happen.
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Font is out of options, so he could be claimed away if the club tries to send him to the Minor Leagues. But he's also already in his 12th professional season and has pitched only seven Major League innings.
With Tom Koehler out indefinitely with a sprained anterior shoulder capsule, there is an unexpected bullpen spot available. J.T. Chargois, claimed from Minnesota at the start of camp, continued his bid with another scoreless inning Tuesday. Pedro Báez matched that, but Yimi García, coming back from Tommy John surgery, was touched up for two runs. Adam Liberatore, who pitched Monday, has been perfect through three innings.
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Kenley Jansen, Scott Alexander, Tony Cingrani and Ross Stripling are projected to fill half of the eight expected reliever spots. Josh Fields' status is uncertain because he has not pitched in a Cactus League game yet, having had minor arm discomfort early in camp.
Designated fielder:Rob Segedin was in the starting lineup at first base Tuesday, but he never had any intention of batting after getting four plate appearances in Monday's "B" game. Segedin is easing back after offseason hand surgery.
He played defense the first two innings and was batted for in the top of the third inning.
"If we had batted around in the first inning and my spot came up," said Segedin, who was batting ninth, "I never would have played. They were going to hit for me."
Segedin is expected to bat in Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Angels.
Camp battle:Matt Kemp started in left field Tuesday and went 1-for-3 with a double; Alex Verdugo went 1-for-2 with a double and was praised after the game by Roberts; Andrew Toles was 1-for-2 coming off the bench.
Injury update: Shortstop Corey Seager, who threw to bases for the first time Monday, came out of it fine Tuesday, Roberts said. But Roberts punted to the medical department when asked if Seager's recovering elbow would be ready to play defense in a game by the end of the week.
Roberts added that if Seager is not ready by Opening Day, it's not reason for panic.
"The big picture, no," said Roberts. "To each player, to be ready for the Opening Day start, I think Corey would respond differently. The goal is to get him ready to be comfortable and confident for March 29. The big picture, absolutely not."
Roberts said Seager is symptom free, after conceding his elbow hurt on every throw toward the end of last season.
"It's still far enough out that I don't have to concern myself now," said Roberts. "We're moving in the right direction. He's been symptom free. We just can't afford any setbacks, so the progression is more methodical and everyone is more confident."
Left alone: With Ichiro Suzuki signing news, Yu Darvish starting in Mesa and Shohei Ohtani doing designated-hitter duty, Kenta Maeda threw a bullpen session without any Japanese media present for the first time he can remember.
"That's business," Maeda said.
Up next: Opening Day starter Clayton Kershaw makes his third Cactus League start Wednesday against the Angels and Garrett Richards at Tempe, with the action broadcast live on MLB.TV at 12:10 p.m. PT.