PHOENIX -- Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez will leave the club after Tuesday's Cactus League game to play for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic qualifier tournament in Mexicali, Mexico. Gonzalez is expected to rejoin the Dodgers before next Monday's game.In addition to Mexico, other nations in the Mexicali qualifier

PHOENIX -- Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez will leave the club after Tuesday's Cactus League game to play for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic qualifier tournament in Mexicali, Mexico. Gonzalez is expected to rejoin the Dodgers before next Monday's game.

In addition to Mexico, other nations in the Mexicali qualifier are the Czech Republic, Germany and Nicaragua, with the winner advancing to next year's World Baseball Classic.

Dodgers broadcaster Fernando Valenzuela will throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to Thursday's game.

There had been talk about Dodgers 19-year-old pitching sensation Julio Urias also participating in the tournament, but a slight groin injury put him behind in his training, and those talks were nixed.