The Los Angeles Dodgers begin their World Series defense on Thursday with an Opening Day matchup against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.
Clayton Kershaw gets the nod for his franchise-record ninth start in a regular season opener, while the Rockies counter with German Marquez.
L.A. has since set the remainder of their starting rotation for the Opening Series, with Trevor Bauer, Walker Buehler and Julio Urias following Kershaw.
The Rockies, meanwhile, had to adjust their plans after Kyle Freeland suffered a shoulder injury in a recent Spring Training start.
According to Thomas Harding of MLB.com, the club will turn to Antonio Senzatela, Jon Gray and Austin Gomber against the Dodgers in the Opening Series:
The original plan for the four-game series was to alternate right-handers and left-handers. However, the Rockies reacted to lefty Kyle Freeland’s shoulder injury, which will cost him at least a month, by beginning with three righties with experience and solid resumes at Coors — Márquez, Antonio Senzatela and Jon Gray. Lefty Austin Gomber will start next Sunday’s series finale.
The Dodgers have seen plenty of Senzatela and Gray over the years, while Gomber is entering his first season with the Rockies after coming over in the trade that sent Nolan Arenado to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Freeland, who likely would have followed Marquez in the second game of the series, is expected to be out of action for at least one month while recovering from a shoulder strain.
The Rockies received further bad news in that reliever Scott Oberg’s career could be over after undergoing surgery to remove blood clots from his right elbow.
Dennis Santana reportedly left off Dodgers’ Opening Day roster
With Dustin May and Zach McKinstry recently earning spots on the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster, the last order of business was said to be rounding out the bullpen.
L.A. reportedly chose Scott Alexander over Dennis Santana for the final spot, who now joins an unconventional group that will feature career starters Tony Gonsolin, David Price and Jimmy Nelson.
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