The 2024 MLB regular season begins on the other side of the world on Wednesday. The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres will begin the new season with two games in Seoul, South Korea. These are regular season games. they count. These were also the first regular season games in MLB history to be played in Korea. This will be the first time MLB has started a new season internationally since 2019, when the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners played two games in Tokyo.
The Dodgers and Padres will play two games in the Soul Series this week, and the rest of the league will begin the regular season next week with the traditional opener on Thursday, March 28th. Here's how to watch the Souls series opener.
Dodgers vs Padres time, information
date: March 20th (Wednesday) | time: 6:05 a.m. ET (3:05 a.m. PST)
position: Gocheok Sky Dome (Seoul, South Korea)
tv channels: ESPN, Sportsnet LA, Padres TV | live stream: Fubo (free trial)
expected pitcher: RHP Tyler Glasnow (Dodgers) vs. RHP Yu Darvish (Padres)
odds: LAD-205 | SD+170 | O/U: 8.5
storyline
Dodgers: The Shohei Otani era begins. Los Angeles signed Ohtani to a record 10-year, $700 million contract this winter.with significant postponement), won't pitch this season as he prepares to return from elbow surgery in September, but Ohtani plans to hit, and he did a lot this spring. Manager Dave Roberts will have three MVPs at the top of the lineup: Mookie Betts, Ohtani and Freddie Freeman. It's never been this tough for opposing pitchers. Additionally, Yoshinobu Yamamoto will make his MLB debut in Game 2 of the Seoul Series on Thursday. For any other team, Yamamoto would be a key addition in the offseason, but for the Dodgers he is the second player on the roster after Ohtani. Yamamoto in Los Angeles, Reigned as MVP three times in Japan, the richest pitching contract in baseball history this offseason: 12 years, $325 million. The Dodgers will be showing off all their new toys this week in Seoul.
Padres: Late last year, the Padres suffered one of baseball's biggest disappointments, missing the postseason with an 82-80 record despite having the third-highest salary in baseball. Although they cut spending this offseason, most notably trading Juan Soto and his $31 million salary, the Padres still expect to contend in 2024. A wild card spot is within reach and they can build their offense around Fernando Tatis Jr. , Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts. Even if it's not Betts, Ohtani, or Freeman, it's a pretty strong core. Darvish and Joe Musgrove will start for San Diego in Seoul. The rotation follows two veteran strongmen; We recently acquired Dylan Schiess. It's a little unstable. Pitchers like Pedro Avila, Johnny Brito, Michael King and Randy Vazquez will help determine whether the Padres have a bounce-back season or miss the postseason again.
prediction
The Dodgers' victory over Glasnow in the opening game of the Soul Series was, of course, thanks to Ohtani's home run. The man has a flair for the dramatic. Dodgers 7, Padres 2