Dodgers Stifle Cardinals in a Magical Home Opener

I woke up this morning. put on my Clayton Kershaw jersey, something I have done for the last 10 home openers.

This was the true Opening Day, and it was perfect.  The pre-game ceremonies were first class.  Introduction of the Dodgers on blue carpet.  Bryan Cranston was outstanding in his introduction of the LAD starting lineup.  IMO, there has never been a better singing of the national anthem than Whitney Houston at the 1991 Super Bowl, but Josh Groban was pretty terrific.  I did not hear Bear sing the national anthem at Dodger Stadium, so I cannot compare.  And the flyover was perfectly timed. Adrian Beltre throws out the ceremonial 1st pitch with Clayton Kershaw catching.   All this on comfortable 66 degree afternoon in front of 52,667 attendees.

Tyler Glasnow got to live out his childhood dream by pitching in the LAD Home Opener at Dodger Stadium for his Dodgers.  His curve was still not dominant, and yet he went 6 innings and only allowed an end of the bat single and HR, both by Paul Goldschmidt.  81 total pitches.  He had 5 strikeouts against 1 walk.  Without the dominating curve, and without his normal command of his fastball, Glasnow still dominates.  His slider was outstanding.

• 4 seam Fastballs – 41 pitches – 22 swings, 1 Whiff – 4 called strikes
• Slider – 28 pitches – 14 swings, 8 whiffs – 0 called strikes
• Curve – 9 pitches – 5 swings, 3 whiffs – 0 called strikes
• Sinker – 3 pitches – 1 swing, 1 whiff – 1 called strike

With improved command, he is going to generate more than a few more swings and misses.

The Dodgers did their own version of the piggyback, with LHP Ryan Yarbrough relieving Glasnow and throwing 3.0 scoreless innings, allowing only a single to that man, Paul Goldschmidt.  Yarbs was efficient with 44 pitches in his 3.0 IP.  He relies on soft contact, and got it.  His 3.0 innings in relief gives Yarbrough his first save in 2024.  At the end of the day, Paul Goldschmidt was 3-4, and the other Cardinals were 0-27.

As good as the pitching was, it was the offense that was special.  Much has been written about the three MVPs at the top of the order, and they did not disappoint.  They reached base on 9 of their 12 PA with a combined 5-8 and 4 BB.  2 HR, 6 runs, and 4 RBI.  Max Muncy and James Outman had run scoring singles, and Max added a sac fly for his first 2024 RBI.

• Mookie – 1-2, HR, 2 BB, 3 runs, 1 RBI
• Ohtani – 2-3, double, 1 BB, 1 run
• Freddie – 2-3, HR, 1 BB, 2 runs, 3 RBI
• Through three games, Betts is a convenient 7-for-11 and has reached base 11 times in his 15 trips to the plate, with two home runs and eight RBI.

Mookie Betts is the most impressive baseball player of his generation & he is seemingly only getting better by the day 📈pic.twitter.com/EDc6V9isWg

— The Commish (@CommishFilmRoom) March 29, 2024

Freddie's turn!

Freddie Freeman hits his first homer of the season. #OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/W4joqQocjN

— MLB (@MLB) March 28, 2024

Will Smith’s first AB after his monster extension was a run scoring single.  It would have been 2 RBI if not for this base running blunder on Ohtani.

Shohei Ohtani's first hit at Dodger Stadium as a Dodger! pic.twitter.com/x9OpzrWk2n

— MLB (@MLB) March 28, 2024

I said it was magical, not perfect.

Yes, Max struck out twice, but he did have that run-scoring single and sac fly.  I will take the strikeouts when he can come through as he did on this day.

James Outman did strike out, but he had two hits, including that run scoring single.

Teoscar Hernández doubled in his Dodger Stadium debut.  No need to bring up the three K’s.  I guess I just did.  Oh well.

The only two LAD hitters not to reach base were Jason Heyward and Gavin Lux.  Heyward did have a diving catch in RF.

The Dodgers were even able to bring up three right handed PH in the 8^th to hit against the LHRP Matthew Liberatore.  Chris Taylor for Outman, Kiké Hernández for J-Hey, and Miguel Rojas for Gavin Lux.  Although, none of the three reached base.

For the game, the Dodgers were 3-6 WRISP, plus a sac fly.

I guess the Checkbook Dodgers beat Miles Mikolas and his hardest working Midwestern farmers in this one.

Tyler Glasnow’s LAD effort was excellent, but it was not as good as the Orioles new Ace, Corbin Burnes.  Burnes also went 6.0 innings, allowing only an HR to Mike Trout, and no other base runner.  He also had 11 K in his Orioles debut.

Frankie Montas also had 6.0 shutout IP for the Reds in their win over the Nationals. Tarik Skubal went 6.0 three hit shutout IP for Detroit in their 1-0 win over Garrett Crochet and the Chicago White Sox.  Skubal struck out 6.  Crochet was very effective himself in his 6.0 IP.  He allowed 1 run on 5 hits and registered 8 Ks.

This was the Dodgers 6^th consecutive home opener victory, and 8 out of the last 10 years.

Friday’s game will allow the Dodgers to show what they can do against a LHSP, 26 year old Zack Thompson.  The Dodgers will counter with RHP Bobby Miller.  The game will be broadcast on Apple TV with the announcing crew of, Wayne Randazzo, Dontrelle Willis, and Heidi Watney.  The game is scheduled to start at 7:10PM.

OKC BAseball Club opens their 2024 season on Friday in Tacoma (Seattle Mariners).  Landon Knack deservingly draws the opening day start.  The game starts at 7:05PM in Tacoma.  As I am writing this, the rosters have not yet been finalized.  I will write something on the team and the 1st game tomorrow for Saturday.