With a bang, the Los Angeles Dodgers kick off spring training against the San Diego Padres with a snowman.
Now that baseball has returned, the Los Angeles Dodgers have quickly cemented their supremacy in the league.
At Peoria Sports Complex on Thursday, the Dodgers and San Diego Padres squared off in the first spring training game of 2024 to begin Cactus League play. Los Angeles was the first to take the mound, and they immediately tested San Diego starting pitcher Joe Musgrove.
In order to start the afternoon, four Dodgers made it safely. Musgrove was relieved of his duties following a two-run ground-rule double by Teoscar Hernandez, a recently signed left fielder.
Musgrove’s replacement, Carter Loewen, was hit by Los Angeles’ potent attack right away and struck out the first batter he faced.
Chris Owings, the third baseman, followed Hernandez’s example by scoring two runs on a ground-rule double of his own. First baseman Kevin Padlo launched a two-run home run to left, and right fielder Andy Pages added another two runs with a single to right.
There had only been one out recorded by the Padres when Loewen was pulled. Conversely, the Dodgers had scored eight runs.
San Diego lost to Los Angeles despite not having past MVPs Shohei Ohtani or Freddie Freeman. Veteran outfielders Jason Heyward and Manuel Margot did not start, nor did All-Stars Will Smith and Max Muncy.
Xander Bogaerts, Jake Cronenworth, and Fernando Tatis Jr., the All-Star trio, all fell in order as the Padres attempted to respond in the bottom of the first.
Halfway through the fourth inning, the Dodgers are still up 8 to 0. ESPN will broadcast the game.
After spending $1.2 billion on an offseason, FanGraphs projects Los Angeles will win 94.5 games in 2024, which would tie for second most in baseball. In contrast, San Diego is predicted to win 81.3 games.
Next month, the Dodgers and Padres will play their first regular-season game of the year. The Seoul Series, which begins in Korea on March 20, will pit the rivals of the NL West against one another.
