Still no movement on the roster construction, and the big bats remain unsigned and not traded. Big names signed today, OF JJ Bleday by Cincinnati, and RHRP, Hunter Harvey by the Cubs.
So I decided to take a look at the schedule.
For the first time in three years, the Dodgers get to start the regular season in the United States at home. They have a heavy first half season. They play 97 games before the All Star Break and 65 after the break. They play 86 from March through June and 76 games July through August.
The Dodgers open the season at home with three against Arizona and three against Cleveland. That is followed by their first road test, taking them to Washington DC and Toronto.
Their longest consecutive game schedule is 13 which they play 4 times. They play one in April, one in May, one in June/July, and one in August.
Beginning April 10, they play 25 games in 27 days, immediately followed by 29 games in 31 days, ending June 7. That is 54 games in 59 days. That is going to put the Dodgers pitching depth to the test.
Their first extensive travel without an open travel date is from Milwaukee (May 24) to home (May 25). The second such trip is from home (August 2) to Chicago Cubs (August 3). And the final such travel date is from Cincinnati (September 17) to home (September 18).
Following the All Star Break, the Dodgers venture to New York and Philadelphia. They play three against NYY, three against Phillies, and 3 against NYM, before coming home to face the Mariners and Red Sox.
They play two other 9 game away schedules:
- LAA, San Diego, Milwaukee
- Minnesota, San Diego, A’s (Sacramento)
As always, the Dodgers play each division team 13 times. They play San Diego and San Francisco 4 games at home vs 3 games away, While they play 4 in Arizona and 4 in Colorado vs three at home against both.
They play 48 games against the American League: 6 against the Angels and 3 against the other 14 teams. They play NYY, Toronto, and Detroit away, while they play Seattle, Boston, and Cleveland at home.
They play 62 games against the NL Central and NL East. They play 8 of the teams 3 at home and 3 away. They play the other two 7 times. They play Milwaukee 4 times at home and 3 away, while they play the Reds 3 at home and 4 away.
The Dodgers finish the season with 3 at home against San Francisco, 3 at home against San Diego, and 3 away in San Francisco. They finish their games in San Diego June 26-28. I am glad they do not have to deal with that fan base after June.
This is actually a pretty good schedule, accentuated with a full cactus league schedule and no trip to Asia. They have the pitching depth to get through their schedule gauntlet through June 7, and have plenty of time to rest/recover the final 3 months.
