The Los Angeles Dodgers’ 2016 regular-season schedule features a bevy of American League East opponents, which means road trips to New York, Tampa Bay and Toronto. The Dodgers’ first look at an AL East foe comes May 3 when they begin a quick two-game series against the Rays at Tropicana Field.
From there, Los Angeles will fly north of the border to face the Blue Jays for a three-game set at Rogers Centre. However, well before the Dodgers take the field, a significant change will have been completed inside the Blue Jays’ home stadium.
The club announced the installation of an all-dirt infield will begin Monday, and conclude in time for the 2016 season.
It has not yet been determined if the artificial turf will be replaced by grass at some point in the future.
Previously named the SkyDome, the multipurpose stadium opened in 1989 and has always used artificial turf.
Prior to 1989, the Blue Jays called Exhibition Stadium home beginning in 1977, where they also played on turf.
The Rogers Centre is one of six stadiums with a retractable roof currently being used in the Majors, but is the only with artificial turf. While Tropicana Field has a similar field setup, the roof is not retractable. Moreover, the infield and baselines at Tropicana Field are dirt.
The Dodgers last faced the Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre in July 2013, during which Los Angeles swept the three-game series.
