As part of the MLB World Tour, the Los Angeles Dodgers are opening the 2024 season with a two-game series against the San Diego Padres in South Korea. The Seoul Series will be played at Gocheok Sky Dome from March 20-21, with 7:05 p.m. local start times (3:05 a.m. PT).
Anticipation for the matchup increased after the Dodgers’ signings of Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto during the offseason. Moreover, Ha-Seong Kim is set to play in his native country for the first time since signing with the Padres.
Although the series is still more than five weeks away, the Dodgers are already thinking ahead on who may potentially take the mound for them in South Korea.
According to Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times, the team is planning to start Yamamoto in one of the two games against the Padres:
The Dodgers plan for Yamamoto to start a game in their season-opening, two-game series against the San Diego Padres in South Korea, according to people familiar with the situation who spoke under the condition of anonymity.
With Yamamoto expected to take the mound in South Korea, it is likely he will be limited to a certain inning or pitch threshold as the Dodgers reportedly intend to piggyback their starters.
As it currently stands, the team is projected to open the 2024 season with a rotation of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Bobby Miller, James Paxton and Emmet Sheehan. Michael Grove and Gavin Stone are other potential options on the team’s 40-man roster.
Walker Buehler is not expected to be part of the Opening Day rotation due to an innings limit, but the right-hander recently said he is ahead of schedule in his rehab.
Shohei Ohtani expects to be in Dodgers lineup for Seoul Series
Along with Yamamoto potentially making a start against the Padres, Ohtani anticipates being in the Dodgers lineup for the Seoul Series as well. “I’m very confident, because we’re right on schedule,” he said through interpreter Ippei Mizuhara at DodgerDest.
“We’re not ahead, we’re not behind. We’re right on schedule,” Ohtani said. “So as long as there’s no setbacks going forward, I should be ready.”
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