The Los Angeles Dodgers’ 2020 schedule was unveiled Monday, and with it came plenty of excitement for what lies ahead.
The club will officially begin the year with an Opening Day matchup against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, July 23, at 7 p.m. PT. It marks the first of 10 games against the Giants this season, with seven of those head-to-head meetings coming at Chavez Ravine.
At the conclusion of the four-game set, the Dodgers hit the road for a two-game series against the Houston Astros from July 28-29. It represents L.A.’s first stop at Minute Maid Park since Game 5 of the 2017 World Series.
Though the environment will have a much different feel due to the lack of fans in attendance, the matchup still figures to be one of the most anticipated of the year.
The Astros, of course, defeated the Dodgers in seven games during the World Series in 2017 to capture their first title in franchise history. But that victory is now overshadowed by the organization’s sign-stealing scandal that came to light this past offseason.
“Not really anything particular with the Astros,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said when looking ahead to upcoming matchup.
“I know that it’s nice to open up at home with a team we’re familiar with. Then get the off day, go to Houston for two days, and then Arizona and San Diego. It’s just going to be a different environment.
“I know our fans were looking forward to getting those guys here, but we’re going to be at their place (first). Sans fans, so it’s going to be a different environment. I’m just expecting to play good baseball against a good ballclub.”
Upon reporting to Camelback Ranch in February for the start of Spring Training, many Dodgers players did not hold back when sharing their thoughts on the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal.
However, the consensus among the clubhouse was to leave the past in the past and solely focus on the 2020 season. Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman echoed similar sentiments.
“Our standpoint as we talked about a lot in Spring Training, it’s human nature to go back and relive and think about 2017,” he said recently. “It just couldn’t be less productive at this point in time, so I think from our standpoint, they’re a good, talented team and it’s about beating them in 2020.
“It’s the only thing we can kind of control at this point and it’s where our energy is best spent.”
Following their two-game series at the end of the must, the Dodgers and Astros will meet one final time during the regular season at Dodger Stadium from Sept. 12-13.
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