2021 Dodgers: Previewing an Exciting Home Opener

Overtime Heroics Editorial

901 days ago

The 2021 Dodgers home-opening series is the most anticipated opening series for the franchise since 1989. The Dodgers will host the Washington Nationals this weekend on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The Dodgers (5-2) have had a positive start to their season, after taking three out of four from the Rockies and taking two out of three from the A’s this week in Oakland. The Nationals (1-2) have had a much different start to the season after positive COVID-19 tests within the organization delayed their season start. The Nationals defeated the Braves 7-6 on Tuesday but dropped both games in their doubleheader on Wednesday.

2021 Dodgers: Game 1 – April 9, 2021

The first game of the Dodgers vs Nationals will take place on Friday, April 9th at 1:00 PM Pacific Time. The Dodgers will send Walker Buehler to the mound to face Joe Ross. Buehler had his first start of the season in Colorado, where he pitched six innings, striking out four and allowing two runs. This will be the first start of the season for Ross. Ross appeared in 27 games in 2019, going 4-4 with a 5.48 ERA and 57 strikeouts. Ross chose not to play in 2020 out of concerns for the health of his family during COVID-19.

Friday"s 2021 Dodgers opener will also feature the Dodgers 2020 World Series Championship ring ceremony, in addition to the unveiling of the 2020 World Series plaque for the stadium.

2021 Dodgers: Game 2 – April 10, 2021

The second game of this series will see Julio Urias taking the mound for the Dodgers on Saturday, April 10th at 6:10 PM PST. The Nationals have yet to announce a starter. Urias has been one of the 2021 Dodgers most impressive starting pitchers so far. In his first start against Colorado he produced a masterful performance. Urias pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, while striking out six with an ERA of 1.29.

Urias will be challenged by some of the hot bats for the Nationals. Ryan Zimmerman is hitting .444 with his hot start, and Starlin Castro is batting .364 with three RBIs. For the Dodgers, Corey Seager is red hot batting .423 with a team-leading seven RBIs (tied with Justin Turner). On Saturday, the 2021 Dodgers will be paying tribute to the late Tommy Lasorda.

2021 Dodgers: Game 3 – April 11, 2021

The lineups for Game 3 have not yet been announced. The game will take place on Sunday, Aprill 11th at 1:10 PM Pacific Time. It is likely that Dustin May will feature for the Dodgers. May got the win against the A"s in his 2021 debut, tossing six innings of scoreless baseball with eight strikeouts. My bold prediction for the 2021 Dodgers was that May would contend for the Cy Young award in the NL, and so far, he is on pace to do so early.

On Sunday, the Dodgers will pay tribute to Fernando Valenzuela. “Fernandomania" was one of the most exciting times is Dodgers history when Valenzuela was at the top of his game.

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