The Los Angeles Dodgers finished with a 111-51 record in the 2022 MLB season but could not cap it off with a World Series appearance, making it somewhat of a disappointing season despite winning more games than any team since the 2001 Seattle Mariners.
The Dodgers have made a few acquisitions during the off-season, most notably designated hitter J.D. Martinez and starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard, but return a team minus starting shortstop Trea Turner (Philadelphia Phillies), outfielder Cody Bellinger (Chicago Cubs), and long-time third baseman Justin Turner (Boston Red Sox). They also released starting pitcher Trevor Bauer despite being responsible for almost $23 million in salary.
Opening Day
The Dodgers will open the season on March 31st against the Arizona Diamondbacks will be the first time the Dodgers have started their season at home in Chavez Ravine since 2020, and they’ll do so in front of a sold-out crowd. The four-game set is the front end of a six-game homestand that will get the season underway as the Dodgers look to emulate the regular season dominance of last season.
Fans can expect to see Clayton Kershaw make his record-tenth opening-day start for the Dodgers. Los Angeles is 8-1 in Kershaw’s opening day starts, with their lone loss coming to the San Francisco Giants in 2018. Kershaw personally is 5-1 with a 1.05 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 51.2 innings pitched over that time.
Fan Giveaways
The Dodgers’ giveaway schedule is one of the most anticipated in Major League Baseball. Last year’s list featured 26 items available to fans at the game, including bobbleheads, tee shirts, and jerseys.
The Dodgers’ giveaway schedule is one of the most anticipated in Major League Baseball. Last year’s list featured 26 items available to fans at the game, including bobbleheads and signed jerseys.
Now, giving away freebies is a standard business practice. According to Casino Guru, if you’ve ever received a free coffee with Starbucks Rewards or claimed a no-deposit bonus, you’ll have benefited from getting something extra from a business as a form of promotion, usually to attract new customers. But Dodgers’ giveaway package is a different thing altogether.
On special promotional dates for the All-Star break, they will offer 15 stadium-wide giveaways, a series of theme nights, and special celebrations, starting with an opening night Drone Show after the Dodgers host the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Chicago Cubs on Jackie Robinson Day
The Dodgers honored the 75th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s historic debut with a 3-1 win over Cincinnati Reds last season. They’ll be hoping to replicate this with a victory over Chicago Cubs this year on April 15 at home in Los Angeles.
The series against Chicago will see Cody Bellinger return to his original club for the first time in an opposing jersey. The Dodgers swept all six games from the Cubs last season, four at Dodger Stadium and two on the road at Wrigley Field, outscoring Chicago by a total of 37-20.
First Padres’ Series
This year, the best two teams in the division last season go head-to-head in a crucial early-season clash as the Dodgers visit San Diego early May for a three-game series. The Dodgers dominated the Padres in the regular season last year, going 14-5 against San Diego while not dropping a single series. However, the Padres bounced the 111-win Dodgers from the playoffs last year in a surprising 3-1 Division Series result that ended Los Angeles’ season.
Expect a very competitive series as the Padres return Fernando Tatis, Jr. to a lineup that has added Xander Bogaerts and Matt Carpenter during the off-season.
End of Season Road Trip
The Dodgers’ season wraps up with a seven-game trip that’s a little out of the ordinary. They’ll play seven games in six days, all on the road. Los Angeles will start in Colorado, taking on the Rockies in a four-game series that includes a split doubleheader at the end of September, and then rock up in San Francisco for a season-closing three-game series against their biggest division rivals Giants.
Other Notable Games and Series
The New York Yankees visit Dodger Stadium for the first time since 2019 when they play a three-game series June 2-4.
The Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays play May 26-28 at Tropicana Field in their first meeting since the 2020 World Series.
Like always, the Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels each host the Freeway Series — June 20-21 in Anaheim and July 7-8 at Dodger Stadium.
Mookie Betts faces the Boston Red Sox for the first time since being traded when the Dodgers visit Fenway Park from Aug. 25-27.
