Anticipation has been building for the Los Angeles Dodgers Spring Training debuts of high-profile offseason acquisitions Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
And while it looks the wait for Ohtani and Yamamoto is extending into next week, the time has come for Glasnow’s first start with the Dodgers. He takes the mound Saturday afternoon at Tempe Diablo Stadium to face the Los Angeles Angels.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Glasnow is expected to pitch two innings and remarked he was looking forward to watching the right-hander pitch. Roberts also touted Glasnow as having the potential of a staff ace.
That presumably played a part in the Dodgers ensuring Glasnow would sign a contract extension as part of their trade with the Tampa Bay Rays. That amounted to a five-year, $136.5 million deal and while it is still early, all reports coming out of Dodgers camp are the organization is happy with their decision.
Daniel Hudson and Matt Gage are scheduled to pitch against the Angels as well.
For Hudson, it will be an important step in his return after an MCL sprain in his right knee ended his 2023 early. The Dodgers are hopeful to have Hudson on their Opening Day roster, and Saturday’s appearance could be an important first step toward that becoming a reality.
Gage is an interesting name for the Dodgers as they try to put their bullpen together for the season. He was acquired in the Caleb Ferguson trade with the New York Yankees, and is a rare lefty option out of the Dodgers’ bullpen.
As for the Dodgers lineup, it is largely the same as their Spring Training opener, with one small change being the insertion of Trey Sweeney for the first time.
For Sweeney, it is a well deserved starting nod as he has impressed in the Dodgers’ first two games. Sweeney has two hits in four at-bats, but what really sticks out is a smooth swing from the left-handed side and his willingness to hit the ball where it is pitched.
The 23-year-old was a first-round pick by the Yankees in 2021, and was traded to the Dodgers this past offseason in exchange for Victor González and Jorbit Vivas.
Victor Mederos is on the mound to start for the Angels. A sixth-round pick in 2022, Mederos had limited time in the Majors last year with just three innings pitched. He posted a 5.67 ERA in 92 innings during his time in Double-A Rocket City last season, but he did have an above-average 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings.
Dodgers lineup
2B: Mookie Betts
CF: James Outman
3B: Chris Taylor
LF: Teoscar Hernández
C: Austin Barnes
DH: Gavin Lux
RF: Andy Pages
SS: Trey Sweeney
1B: Kevin Padlo
Angels lineup
DH: Mickey Moniak
1B: Nolan Schanuel
CF: Mike Trout
3B: Michael Stefanic
LF: Taylor Ward
2B: Brandon Drury
C: Logan O’Hoppe
RF: Jo Adell
SS: Zach Neto
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