For a second consecutive year the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego padres will open the regular season in front of a national audience as ESPN is broadcasting their Monday, April 3 contest. However, it is subject to local blackout.
Those within the Los Angeles market can watch on SportsNet LA. First pitch at Dodger Stadium is set for 1:10 p.m. PT. The game is one of seven ESPN is carrying across their networks over two days, with coverage beginning April 2, the first day of the 2017 regular season.
Last year the Dodgers swept the Padres in the Opening Series at Petco Park. Los Angeles outscored San Diego, 25-0, over the three games.
Including a portion of a game against the San Francisco Giants, the Dodgers set a franchise record with 31 consecutive scoreless innings to start a season. It fell one frame short of matching the MLB record set by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1963.
After their four-game series with the Padres to start the season, the Dodgers hit the road for seven games in matchups against the Colorado Rockies and 2016 World Series champion Chicago Cubs.
En route to becoming the first team to win four consecutive National League West title, the Dodgers appeared on ESPN with plenty of regularity; in particular for games against the San Francisco Giants. The same is likely to hold true for 2017.