Dodgers Dugout: The opening day is finally here

The Dodgers open their season today in San Diego against the Padres. The game begins at 4 pm PDT, and this is the amazing thing: Actually, it will be on television, on ESPN. You do not get to hear Vin Scully, but you get to see the Dodgers. Some sites are reporting today that the game was lost knowledge, but a representative of ESPN yesterday assured me that it would be in Los Angeles Therefore, cross your fingers.

The Dodgers also start the season with 10 players on the disabled list: Brett Anderson, Mike Bolsinger, Andre Ethier, Alex Guerrero, Yasmani Grandal, Howie Kendrick, Brandon McCarthy, Frankie Montas, Ravin and Josh Ryu Hyun-jin.

The opening day numbers

Clayton Kershaw will make his sixth start opening day, tying Fernando Valenzuela and putting one less than the LA Dodgers record of seven, held by Don Drysdale and Don Sutton

If you are surprised Steve Garvey is not on the list, he started eight times on the opening day, from 1975 to 1982.

The Dodgers are 31-27 on the opening day, with his record for most runs scored with 16, who scored in the victory 16-7 over the Houston Astros in 1983.

The last pitcher not named Clayton Kershaw to start opening day for the Dodgers was Vicente Padilla in 2010.

And the fifth starter is ...

Ross Stripling, who was not even a candidate when spring training began, but has thrown its way into the rotation due to some injuries.

Stripling missed all of 2014 after Tommy John surgery and was 3-6 with a 3.66 ERA in 14 starts in the minors last season. It never has been thrown over double A.

How much the Dodgers in Stripling? Well, not really if this quote from David Roberts is an indication: "Where we are as far as the state of our rotation, which is a necessity for him to start the season with us."

Gather the usual suspects

Here are the projected starting lineups Dodgers and their NL West opponents will use during the first few days.

The Dodgers win one of the two wild card positions.

Of course, these predictions and $ 10 will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks. A main website Kansas City last season picked to finish last in the Central Division, which turned out to be slightly incorrect.

And finally

The Dodgers have not won a World Series, or even in a single state since 1988, when he was 21 years old. My parents always told me that adulthood is not always as fun as it sounds. I see what you mean. Here's hoping that this year ends that streak and next year on the opening day get to see the flag of the World Series that was raised in a ceremony organized by Vin Scully, who has decided to postpone retirement a year because this season was fun.

Related eXtra/News news News Today Sport