Prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic bringing Major League Baseball to a grinding stop, the Los Angeles Dodgers expected to face the San Francisco Giants on Thursday for Opening Day of the 2020 season.
But with the start of the season indefinitely delayed, fans are left to search for placeholders in lieu of the excitement and pageantry that comes with beginning another year. The Dodgers are going to do their part in helping to fill the void by streaming their 2019 Opening Day game.
A replay of the matchup with the Arizona Diamondbacks begins at 1:10 p.m. PT — when first pitch of the 2020 opener was originally scheduled. The stream will be available on the Dodgers’ Facebook, Twitter and YouTube social media channels. SportsNet LA is also re-airing the game at that same time.
What fans will get to enjoy is another look at the Dodgers setting an MLB record by slugging eight home runs on Opening Day. L.A. continued to feast on Arizona pitching and broke multiple franchise and baseball records during the four-game series.
It began with Zack Greinke surrendering four homers to his former team in what was a 12-5 rout for the Dodgers on Opening Day. Kiké Hernandez and Joc Pederson each hit two home runs, and Corey Seager, Austin Barnes, Max Muncy and Cody Bellinger contributed one apiece.
With Clayton Kershaw unable to extend his streak of Opening Day starts due to left shoulder trouble that forced him to the 10-day injured list, and Rich Hill sidelined by a knee injury, Hyun-Jin Ryu started a season opener for the first time in his career.
The southpaw filled in admirably as he held the Diamondbacks to just one run and collected eight strikeouts over six innings.
In addition to the Dodgers, MLB Network is also springing into action Thursday, beginning at 1 p.m. They are re-airing the Dodgers’ Opening Day game from 2013, when Kershaw memorably hit the first — and only — home run of his career in a 4-0 win over the Giants.
MLB additionally is streaming one memorable game for all 30 clubs across its social media properties.
On Sunday, MLB Network documentary, “Only in Hollywood,” which highlights the 1988 Dodgers winning the World Series, will re-air at 3:30 p.m. PT. That will be followed by “MLB’s 20 Greatest Games,” which includes Kirk Gibson’s walk-off home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.
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