For two teams, the MLB season kicks off this week.
The Dodgers and Padres meet in Seoul, South Korea for a two-game set on Wednesday and Thursday in the first series of the league year.
For those planning to watch at home in the U.S., the first pitch for both games is at 6 a.m. ET, so make sure to brew an extra pot of coffee.
While you’re at it, keep an eye on these three things.
Prized Dodgers offseason acquisitions make their debut
Dodgers fans won’t wait long to see the team’s impressive offseason additions. Pitcher Tyler Glasnow, acquired in a trade with the Rays, will start the opener while Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamato gets the Game 2 nod. Glasnow posted a 3.53 earned run average (ERA) in 2023 and was sharp in spring training with a 0.90 ERA in 10 innings pitched.
Yamamoto was less consistent, striking out 14 batters but issuing 15 hits. Following a scoreless debut outing, he allowed nine earned runs in his final 7.2 innings pitched.
The headliner, of course, is two-time AL MVP Shohei Ohtani. He was brilliant this spring, posting a .500 batting average and reaching base on 15 of his 26 plate appearances. Ohtani is projected to bat second to open the season.
Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish vs. loaded L.A. lineup
Darvish is entering his fourth season with the Padres and will be their Opening Day starter. As MLB.com notes, Wednesday will mark the first time Darvish and Ohtani, teammates on Japan’s World Baseball Classic roster last year, face off in the majors. That duel will be a must-watch, as will his battles with Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.
In 31 career at-bats against Darvish, Betts only has a .194 batting average. Freeman has had more success and is batting .286 with two home runs against the right-hander.
Offseason surgery’s impact on Padres third baseman Manny Machado
Plenty of players would have been content putting up the same numbers Machado did in 2023. But it speaks volumes that his 30-home run, 91-RBI season was largely viewed as a disappointment.
His .258 batting average ranked as the second worst of his career, and he had his lowest on-base percentage (.319) since 2017.
After the 2023 season, Machado had elbow surgery, which will force him to start the season as the Padres designated hitter.
Following a strong spring, that should be good news for the Padres. Machado hit .370 in 27 Cactus League at-bats, suggesting he’s ready for the 2024 season to begin.
