For a second consecutive season, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres are pitted against one another for their respective Opening Day game.
However, whereas the 2015 opener was at Dodger Stadium, the scene shifts to Petco Park for the start of a three-game series on April 4, 2016.
On Thursday, Major League Baseball announced ESPN will nationally broadcast seven Opening Day games over the first two days of the 2016 regular season.
Included in ESPN’s two-day coverage is the April 4 opener between the Dodgers and Padres, which was assigned a 4:05 p.m. PT start time.
Last season the Dodgers won 14 of 19 games against the Padres, including an 8-3 record at Petco Park.
ESPN’s first national telecast of the 2016 MLB season is scheduled for Sunday, April 3 at 10:05 a.m. PT, with the St. Louis Cardinals opening against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.
MLB also announced all games played on Sunday, Oct. 2 — the final day of the regular season — will begin at 12 p.m. PT. The Dodgers conclude their season against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park.
ESPN’s seven-game slate:
Sunday, April 3
10:05 a.m. PT: Cardinals @ Pirates (ESPN)
1:05 p.m. PT: Blue Jays @ Rays (ESPN2)
5:35 p.m. PT: Mets @ Royals (ESPN)
Monday, April 4
10:05 a.m. PT: Astros @ Yankees (ESPN)
1:05 p.m. PT: Mariners @ Rangers (ESPN)
4:05 p.m. PT: Dodgers @ Padres (ESPN)
7:05 p.m. PT: Cubs @ Angels (ESPN2)