The Los Angeles Dodgers started spring training with a Snowman Hung on the San Diego Padres.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have quickly cemented their supremacy at the top of the league since baseball is officially back.
Cactus League play began on Thursday at Peoria Sports Complex with a head-to-head match between the Dodgers and San Diego Padres in their first spring training game of 2024. The first team to rise to the challenge was Los Angeles, which immediately tested San Diego starting pitcher Joe Musgrove.
To begin the afternoon, four Dodgers made it there safely. Musgrove was benched following a two-run ground-rule double by recently signed left fielder Teoscar Hernandez. Carter Loewen, Musgrove’s substitute, struck out his first batter and then gave up a run to Los Angeles’ potent attack.
Following Hernandez’s example, third baseman Chris Owings scored two runs with a ground-rule double of his own. Following a single to right by right fielder Andy Pages, first baseman Kevin Padlo launched a two-run home run to left, adding two more RBI.
The Padres had barely recorded one out when Loewen was pulled. The Dodgers, in contrast, had scored eight runs. Even without previous MVPs Shohei Ohtani or Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles managed to hang a snowman over San Diego. Additionally, neither seasoned outfielders Jason Heyward nor Manuel Margot started, nor did All-Stars Will Smith and Max Muncy.
The All-Star trio of Fernando Tatis Jr., Xander Bogaerts, and Jake Cronenworth fell in order as the Padres attempted to respond in the bottom of the first.
Halfway through the fourth inning, the Dodgers have maintained their 8-0 lead.Los Angeles is predicted by FanGraphs to win 94.5 games in 2024, which would be the second-highest number in baseball, after spending $1.2 billion on external improvements. On the other hand, San Diego is expected to win 81.3 games.
The first regular-season game of the year between the Dodgers and Padres is set for next month. The Seoul Series, which begins in Korea on March 20, will feature games between the NL West rivals.