The 2024 Major League Baseball season is set to kick off with a highly anticipated match between two National League powerhouses – the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers. The Cardinals had a disappointing 71-91 season in 2023, marking their first losing season since 2007 and first 90-loss campaign since 1990. On the other hand, the Dodgers continued their winning streak by securing their 11th consecutive trip to the postseason after winning 100 games.
The Dodgers also made significant moves in the offseason, signing free agents Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Meanwhile, the Cardinals faced challenges with veteran right-hander Sonny Gray being sidelined due to a hamstring injury during spring training. This left RHP Miles Mikolas to step into his place, despite his subpar performance in 2023.
The Cardinals’ rotation remains a concern apart from Gray, as they added Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn during the offseason. Age and effectiveness are issues that could affect their pitching. On the Dodgers side, they have already started their regular season with a series against the Padres in the Korea Series. The game against the Cardinals will mark Ohtani’s home debut after signing a record-breaking deal with the Dodgers. However, Ohtani’s career with the Dodgers has been overshadowed by a gambling scandal that is still unfolding. Despite these distractions, Ohtani’s presence on the team brings excitement to the 2024 season opener.
The highly anticipated game will take place on Thursday, March 28 at 4:10 p.m ET at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Fans can catch all of