Thursday marks the 2025 Domestic Opening Game for the Dodgers.
It will be an ESPN game and start at 4:10 PM (PT). The opponent is the Detroit Tigers.
Managers:
- Dave Roberts – LAD
- AJ Hinch – Detroit
Projected Lineups:
Detroit
- Wenceel Perez, CF
- Gleyber Torres, 2B
- Riley Greene, LF
- Spencer Torkelson, DH
- Andy Ibáñez, 3B
- Colt Keith, 1B
- Manuel Margot, RF
- Jake Rogers, C
- Javier Báez, SS
Dodgers
- Shohei Ohtani, DH
- Mookie Betts, SS
- Freddie Freeman, 1B
- Teoscar Hernández, RF
- Will Smith, C
- Kiké Hernández, LF
- Max Muncy, 3B
- Tommy Edman, 2B
- Andy Pages, CF
Starting Pitchers
- Detroit – LHSP Tarik Skubal – Reigning CY winner
- Dodgers – LHSP Blake Snell – 2-time CY winner
Detroit will be without their top 2 CF: Parker Meadows and Matt Vierling. Instead, it will be 25-year-old Wenceel Perez manning CF for Detroit. All other positions will be operating with regulars. Javy Baez should get the start at SS over Trey Sweeney due to facing a tough lefty in Snell.
The Dodgers position players have been known for some time. No surprises for me.
- DH – Shohei Ohtani
- C – Will Smith
- 1B – Freddie Freeman
- 2B – Tommy Edman
- 3B – Max Muncy
- SS – Mookie Betts
- LF – Michael Conforto
- CF – Andy Pages
- RF – Teoscar Hernández
- Bench – Austin Barnes, Miguel Rojas, Kiké Hernández, Chris Taylor
The rotation starting the year will be:
- Blake Snell (L)
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto (R)
- Roki Sasaki (R)
- Tyler Glasnow (R)
- Dustin May (R)
Initial Bullpen:
- Tanner Scott (L)
- Kirby Yates (R)
- Blake Treinen (R)
- Alex Vesia (L)
- Anthony Banda (L)
- Ben Casparius (R)
- Jack Dreyer (L)
- Luis Garcia (R)
The bullpen is expected to be the most fluid due to injuries. Evan Phillips should return before the end of April. He is currently throwing to batters in live BP and should get some rehab innings at OKC as early as next week. There is no such timetable for Tony Gonsolin or Michael Kopech. Both are expected to pitch this year (as of now). (May???). Brusdar Graterol (August???).
Shohei Ohtani will return to his pitching regimen this weekend. He last threw a bullpen on Feb 25. Ohtani could be ready to assume competitive pitching perhaps as early as May. Maybe (probably) June. But the intent is for Ohtani to be fully capable of pitching and dominating in October. The Dodgers will take their time with him. After all, he is still a pretty good DH.
Tony Gonsolin will be built up as a starter, however he could find himself in the bullpen. Clayton Kershaw is not expected back until June (at the earliest). I am a big Emmet Sheehan advocate, but I do not expect to see him in LA this year. He is not expected to be ready to MiLB pitching until maybe the trade deadline. I then expect the Dodgers to be very careful with him while he rehabs at OKC. No need to rush him.
The Dodgers have three 40-man position players starting the season at OKC: James Outman (OF), Hyeseong Kim (2B/SS/CF), and Hunter Feduccia (C). They also have four starting pitcher and one reliever on the 40 man:
- Bobby Miller – RHSP
- Landon Knack – RHSP
- Justin Wrobleski – LHSP
- Nick Frasso – RHSP
- Matt Sauer – RHRP
Former MLB players still in the organization who could get called:
- Michael Chavis – INF/OF
- Eddie Rosario – OF
- Chris Okey – C
- ??David Bote?? – 3B/1B/RF/LF
- Giovanny Gallegos – RHRP
MLB ready position players, not on the 40-man roster, we could see at Dodger Stadium this year.
- Dalton Rushing – C/1B/LF
- Alex Freeland – SS
One starting pitcher we could see at Dodger Stadium this summer – LHP Jackson Ferris.
There will probably be a half dozen or so relievers added to the roster at some point this season.
I fully expect to see significant fluctuations in the rosters this year. Injuries? Of course there will be. There always are…for all teams.
Milestone predictions:
- Clayton Kershaw needs 32 K to reach 3,000.
- Tyler Glasnow – 1,000 K before he reaches 810 IP. He needs 154 K in 146.1 IP. He would pass:
- Robbie Ray – 810 IP
- Yu Darvish – 812 IP
- Blake Snell – 820.2 IP
- Dylan Cease – 830.1 IP
- Corbin Burnes – 850.1 IP
- Freddie Freeman needs 7 HR to reach 350. Freddie has one more HR than Manny Machado, 2 more than Nolan Arenado and 7 HR more than Bryce Harper.
On the last thread, Sam Oyed asked my opinion on this trade proposal:
Trade Proposal: Baltimore Orioles get RHP Bobby Miller, Los Angeles Dodgers get OF Vance Honeycutt (Orioles No. 4 prospect), what are your thoughts?
Vance Honeycutt could be the long term answer to CF that the Dodgers could be looking for. But he could also be another Jeren Kendall. Kendall’s power never materialized, and his high strikeouts never went away.
Enrique Bradfield, Jr., another Baltimore CF prospect, who like Jeren Kendall was a Vandy alum, would be more of my liking. He has no power, but struck out 15% of his PA. He reminds me of a Brett Butler.
I am not afraid of trading Bobby Miller, but if he gets his head straight, he could be a top of the rotation level pitcher. I think I would need someone a bit closer to MLB ready to give up on Miller. Missing on Honeycutt, one of supposed prizes in last year’s draft, could be a mistake, but I think I would rather take a chance on keeping Miller and waiting on Eduardo Quintero who is three years younger than Honeycutt, and will only start one level below Honeycutt (A vs A+).
Thanks for your thoughts.
Dodgers have an off day on Sunday before facing the Braves next week. After Snell, the scheduled starters are Yamamoto and then Sasaki. Glasnow will open the Braves series against Grant Holmes. Rangers released former Dodger Cody Thomas and selected Kevin Pillar, also a former Dodger to the 40-man roster. He has made the 26-man opening day roster.
Kevin Pillar just keeps rollin’ along…
Always liked that guy. He was unlucky with the Dodgers, getting injured shortly after he was called up.
Those are interesting stats on Freddie, I had no idea. Sure hope they don’t platoon Conforto regularly at least til they see just what he brings this year.
Yeah, that’s the only question for today’s lineup. I expect Keekay and complete buy-in from Conforto. Hell, we paid him $17m and this only protects his numbers.
I think it will be a match up situation with the lefty bats. We could have Rojas at 3rd, Kike at 1st and CT in left to create an all righty line up. Minus Ohtani of course. I would like to see Max sit versus lefties frequently. Freddie should get a rest here and there. With the age of the team I would like to see rest given to all players to keep fresh for when it counts the most.
No way Rojas at 3b but if you’re right, I’ll tip my cap.
Call it a push?
[you were more right than i was FTR]
And you were more wrong
I don’t expect Conforto to be platooned regularly. Certainly Roberts had signalled that Conforto was THE leftfielder, not involved in any kind of job share.
My guess is that Roberts structured this lineup expressly for Skubal, the best lefty in the game. (I assume the brain trust took a look at every hitter’s track record against Skubal.)
Kike’s illness kept him out of the lineup and, I assume, created the opportunity for Rojas.
If Kike had been healthy, he may have played CF with Edman moving to 2B. Another possibility: Maximizing the right-handed power by de-Maxing 3B and playing Kike there.
The “optionality” of this roster is impressive.
He will play a majority of the time, but he is going to sit against guys like Skubal.
And remember, whoever doesn’t start can always come off the bench.
I’m looking forward to the day that Shohei isn’t in the lineup… and then gets called up to pinch-hit with the game on the line.
The Dodger website shows the game tonight as 4:10 Pacific time and my tv shows it starting a 4:10 on espn
Yeah. I copied the start times from Sonja Chen’s article, and erased the wrong time. I already have it fixed, but thank you for pointing it out. Very much appreciated.
Really curious to trace the progress if Miller, Wrobleski & Frasso this year.
Miller I have to think could be a trade chip at the deadline. Get him right before then. Wrobleski I like as depth and as a 2026 SP option. Frasso can move in and out as needed and could be a bullpen fixture in 2026.
Everybody: Hurts
Will I be seeing any of you at Dodger Stadium today? I’d love to meet up!
I wish I was going Bobby. Hope it’s a great game and have a good time
Not if I see you first!
Ipso facto
Trade proposal:
Andy Pages, Bobby Miller and an A prospect for Robert Jr.. Pages and Miller is an equal trade. Throwing in a A lottery pick is just to sweeten the deal.
After my conversation with Phil yesterday I got to thinking of all the exercises I used in training over the years. Along with dumbbell curls, forearm curls, forearm pronation and supination, working all that with a girls shot put, etc, one of the best exercise we used is simply hanging from a bar. We had contests to see who could hang the longest. Try hanging from a bar for 3 minutes. Try it with 3 fingers.
No doubt all Major League organizations know all of this:
But do youth coaches know it? I doubt it.
Band work is prevalent these days.
As is long toss.
Gross
Badger, I’m afraid too many Daddy-Ball coaches are skilled at making motel reservations, travel plans, scheduling tournament dates and buying nice fancy uniforms and don’t know shit about actually coaching kids.
Yes
By an “A” prospect in the trade package for Robert, do you mean someone like De Paula?
Or someone playing A ball…. who might not really be an “A” prospect, if you know what I mean.
At any rate, we’ll have a better idea of Robert’s value as the season progresses. if he returns to his ’23 form, the Dodgers could make a nice offer. Imagine the current lineup with Robert replacing Pages.
The other star who seems likely to be dealt is the Marlins’ Sandy Alcantara, but I think the Dodgers won’t be shopping for starting pitchers.
At least I hope not.
Fearless predictions:
104 wins
Shohei won’t be MVP. Neither will Freeman or Betts
5 Dodgers will make the All Star team
No Dodger pitcher will throw 150 innings and no Dodger will hit .300.
Shohei will do something that’s never been done before
The Dodgers will have a new center fielder by August
More than 1 Dodger pitcher will require surgery
OK Badger, so give me some more detail here.
Who will win the MVP?
Which 5 guys make the A.S. team?
Who’s the new CF?
Details aren’t typically provided with Fearless Predictions. But for you Jefe I’ll give you details:
How’s that for specifics
“Somebody new” is hardly specific. Give me a name.
Roberts plus 4 is just the kind of sly move you’re known for.
So you think Jr is coming, eh? Not impossible. We shall see.
“Give me a name.”
You have one already.
Sly? Me? Nah. Just attempts at Fearless Predictions.
I don’t know if Jr is coming. But it makes sense. He is the kind of guy AF hunts.
Fearful Predictions are the ones that lack detail.
Pretty sure the game starts at 4:10 West Coast time.
Only 4pm game slotted
Thanks. Been corrected. Copy and paste does not work when you erase the wrong time.
“Velo isn’t everything. Location is the most important factor.” Bear yesterday.
Couldn’t agree more. Command your pitches. Put them exactly where you want them. And change speeds. Never throw the exact same pitch in any at bat. Add a foot, subtract a foot. When strikes are thrown on the edges innings can be shut down on 15 pitches or less. May did exactly that his last outing. 5 innings, 68 pitches. Masterful.
112 wins and Shohei MVP for sure, especially if he pitches.
Bold! With detail!
Getting out over my skis here, but I can imagine that if the Dodgers find themselves in range of the Mariners’ 116-win it could provide extra motivation to go for it.
So far, it’s a 162-win pace.
Lux playing LF and batting cleanup for the Reds today. They must really want his bat in the lineup.
I hope he does well.
I like the Reds this season.
I hope he does well too, but cleanup???
Well…Lux had a strong second half in ’24, especially against righties.
In this game he singled and walked in 4 plate appearances–and was replaced in LF before the game ended.
The Dodgers, I think, have high standards for UT players. We Dodger fans are kind of spoiled.
It will be interesting to follow the performances of guys like Lux and Miguel Vargas, who just two Springs ago seemed so vital to the Dodgers’ future.
A lot of players getting DFAd today. Zack Pop, former Dodger DFAd by the Blue Jays along with Nick Robertson and Tommy Nance. Rockies did the same to OF Sam Hilliard to make room for Mickey Moniak. Cubs DFAd Cody Poteet. Poteet went 3-0 last year for the Yankees in five games with a 2.22 ERA. Padres did the same with Eguy Rosario and Tyler Wade.
Poteet well known for being traded for Bellinger in a Cubs salary dump.
Good to learn that the Rockies picked up Moniak. My son is a big Moniak fan.
Roberts hitting the wine early I see.
A’s have officially added their Max Muncy to their roster.
Not only do the two Maxes have the same name plus both being originally drafted by the A’s but they both have the same birthday! Although our Max is 12 years older.
the Max, and Max connections are a little eerie
I was tickled to see the Mariners acquired Rowdy Tellez. He’s the Captain of my MLB All-Slow-Pitch squad along with Daniel Vogelbach, Alejandro Kirk and Vlad Jr.
Rowdy is also on the all-name team.
Well I’m assuming not to many predicted tonight’s lineup
The Red Sox sent Noah Davis to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for cash considerations.
And now Kike’ Hernandez is dealing with a stomach flu b
Sheehan placed on IL and Davis optioned to AAA. Davis is 28 and a former Rockie.
Kike is exhibiting the same symptoms that Mookie had, throwing up, etc. Maybe a coincidence, or maybe something that takes a while to manifest itself after you’re exposed. If the latter, we may be starting a bunch of lineups with minor leaguers over the next couple of weeks. I’m going to assume it’s a coincidence.
Old friends Lux, Amaya and Vargas all have hits today in their games. Vargas has a homer and 2 rbi through 4 innings.
Sorry, that’s a double for Vargas, not a homer.
Good deal for all STB. They were buried in our organization and were not going to play. I’m happy they got a fresh start and hope they do well.
I hope Outman gets a chance somewhere else.
He certainly deserves it as do a number of our young pitchers who will stay buried at OKC for a long time.
Dodgers are going to have to trade some of their pitchers at some point.
Me too. But I also think Outman is just an injury away from getting called up.
If Teo, Conforto or Pages get hurt, Outman could be summoned.
And it was a bloop… but a line drive in the box score!
And old friend McKinstry tripled.
Got some old-time baseball cards today. Ross Youngs of the Giants, Zack Wheat, Casey Stengel as a Dodger and Duke Snider. Also got my 2025 Topps first series Dodger cards and some Kike cards from Topps.
Belli hitting 3rd in the Yankees order behind Judge. 1-2 with an RBI against the Brewers today. O’s pounding Jays, 12-2. Tyler O’Neil set a MLB record with his sixth consecutive opening day with a homer. Rutschman has 2 homers among his 3 hits. Giants only have 3 hits against the Reds pitching today.
Cedric Mullins also hit two HRs.
If the Dodgers have issues in CF, the O’s might be willing to deal Mullins for a pitcher.
Giants beat the Reds on a 3-run HR by Wilmer Flores. The Giants look like a pretty solid team that can battle the Padres and Dbacks for a wild card.
Geez… enough! Play ball already.
Snell, Ohtani and Scott are all busts!
Good game. Detroit is a legit team. They’re battlers. Vesia’s velo was down 2-3 mph.
Add Edman and Teo to your list of busts!
For sure. Teo was on the air for an inning.
Snell was not impressive, but he held the Tigers down until the homer by Teo. Edman tied with Ohtani for the team lead in homers. Pitchers walked way too many tonight. Torkelson himself walked four times. Padres won; Giants won. Dodgers won.
Tom Hanks and his son Colin at the game. So was Rob Lowe and Sandy Koufax. Sweet 57 Chevy Ice Cube was driving.