Dodgers defeat Tigers in home opener to improve to 3-0 on young season

The Dodgers marched in from center field on a blue carpet. The Commissioner’s Trophy cruised in from the parking lot in an icy blue convertible.

The championship flag was raised by the owners. The championship sign was unveiled by two fire department officials.

The pregame festivities before the Dodgers’ home opener at Chavez Ravine was rolling along nicely Thursday when suddenly, appropriately, in its final moments, sweet became spectacular.

The ceremony finished with a homer from the guys who hit the homers.

Gibby actually met Freddie.

Moments after Freddie Freeman and his family were honored for his Game 1-winning grand slam in last year’s World Series, out of the Dodgers dugout popped Kirk Gibson, the Game 1 homer-hitting hero of 1988.

The 2025 Dodgers looked a lot like the 2024 Dodgers on Thursday.

Just with gold lettering adorning their World Series championship jerseys.

In a 5-4 win over the Detroit Tigers in their home opener, this year’s Dodgers produced all the same hallmarks of last season’s title-winning club.

Timely offense, epitomized by Teoscar Hernández’s go-ahead, three-run home run in the fifth inning off reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, and Shohei Ohtani’s solo blast in the seventh for a key insurance run.

⚾ Dodgers 5, Tigers 4 — FINAL

Top of the ninth: Detroit’s Gleyber Torres singled on a grounder past a diving Miguel Rojas at second to lead off the inning. Blake Treinen struck out Riley Greene before Torres stole second base.

Spencer Torkelson earned his fourth walk of the game to put runners on first and second with one out. Treinen struck out pinch-hitter Trey Sweeney and got Colt Keith to pop out in foul territory near first base to end the game.

The Dodgers improved to 3-0. They’ll receive their World Series rings in a ceremony before Friday’s game against the Tigers at 7:10 p.m. PDT.

⚾ Dodgers 5, Tigers 4 — Eighth inning

Top of the eighth: Former Dodger Zach McKinstry hit a lead-off triple to right field off Dodgers reliever Tanner Scott.

After Jake Rogers struck out, Kerry Carpenter drove in McKinstry on sacrifice fly to left field, making it a one-run game. Scott got Andy Ibanez to fly out center field for the third out.

Bottom of the eighth: Teoscar Hernández grounded out against Tigers reliever Beau Brieske. Freddie Freeman flied out to left field and Tommy Edman struck out, sending the game to the ninth.

⚾ Dodgers 5, Tigers 3 — End of the seventh inning

Top of the seventh: Spencer Torkelson hit a one-out, 423-foot home run to left field off Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia to make it a one-run game again.

Vesia bounced back by striking out Manuel Margot and Colt Keith to end the inning.

Bottom of the seventh: Facing Tigers reliever Brenan Hanifee, Miguel Rojas grounded out and Andy Pages struck out.

Shohei Ohtani hit his second home run of the season on a solo blast to left field, giving the Dodgers a 5-3 lead.

Mookie Betts grounded out to short to cap the inning.

⚾ Dodgers 4, Tigers 2 — End of the sixth inning

Top of the sixth: Facing Dodgers reliever Ben Casparius, former Dodger Zach McKinstry drew a walk before Jake Rogers singled to left field. Kerry Carpenter popped out to short before Casparius struck out Andy Ibanez on the ninth pitch of the at-bat.

Gleyber Torres then grounded to third, with Max Muncy throwing to second to force out Rogers.

Bottom of the sixth: Detroit reliever John Brebbia retired the Dodgers in order. Tommy Edman grounded out and Will Smith and Max Muncy struck out.

Alex Vesia will take over on the mound for the Dodgers in the seventh.

⚾ Dodgers 4, Tigers 2 — End of the fifth inning

Top of the fifth: Andy Ibanez flied out to left field. Gleyber Torres and Riley Greene followed with back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners against Blake Snell. With Ben Casparius throwing in the bullpen, Snell walked Spencer Torkelson for the third time, loading the bases.

Manuel Margot gave the Tigers their first lead on a sacrifice fly to deep center field, scoring Torres. Snell then got Colt Keith to ground out to first to limit the damage.

Snell’s Dodgers debut is over. He allowed two runs and five hits while striking out two and walking four over 92 pitches.

Bottom of the fifth: Andy Pages led off with a single to right off Tarik Skubal. Shohei Ohtani grounded into a force out before Mookie Betts walked.

Teoscar Hernández followed with a three-run home run to center field to give the Dodgers a 4-2 lead.

Freddie Freeman flied out to left field to end the inning. Skubal, the defending AL Cy Young Award winner, has allowed four runs and six hits with striking out two and walking one over 80 pitches.

⚾ Tigers 1, Dodgers 1 — End of the fourth inning

Top of the fourth: Spencer Torkelson drew a lead-off walk before Manuel Margot singled to right. Colt Keith lined out to left field and Javier Baez grounded out. Blake Snell then walked Jake Rogers — Snell’s third walk today — to load the bases. Then Snell threw a wild pitch to Ryan Kreidler, allowing Torkelson to score from third to tie the game.

Snell then struck out Kreidler to cap the frame.

Bottom of the fourth: Freddie Freeman grounded out before Kreidler made a diving catch at the warning track in center field to rob Tommy Edman of a potential extra-bases hit. Will Smith followed with a single to right for the Dodgers’ fourth hit.

Tigers starter Tarik Skubal struck out Max Muncy to end the inning.

⚾ Dodgers 1, Tigers 0 — End of the third inning

Top of the third: Ryan Kreidler led off with a single to left field before Andy Ibanez grounded out to third. Gleyber Torres flied out to right field and Riley Greene popped out to Mookie Betts at short.

Bottom of the third: Miguel Rojas and Andy Pages grounded out. Shohei Ohtani, in his second at-bat, lined a hit off the glove of a diving Torres at second for a single.

Betts then ricocheted a liner off Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal that made it impossible for Torres to field, putting runners on the corners. Skubal struck out Teoscar Hernàndez to end the threat.

⚾ Dodgers 1, Tigers 0 — End of the second inning

Top of the second: Blake Snell issued a lead-off walk to Spencer Torkelson before Manuel Margot singled to right field, moving Torkelson to third.

Dodgers catcher Will Smith then forced out Torkelson at third on a fielder’s choice dribble from Colt Keith. Javier Baez then grounded out to third and Jack Rogers flied out to the warning track in left field to leave runners stranded at second and third.

Bottom of the second: Freddie Freeman flied out to the warning track in left field.

Tommy Edman then hit his second home run of the young season to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.

Will Smith flied out and Max Muncy lined out to end the inning.

⚾ Tigers 0, Dodgers 0 — End of the first inning

Shohei Ohtani, facing Tigers starter Tarik Skubal, grounded out to first base on a first-pitch fastball. Mookie Betts lined out deep to left field and Teoscar Hernández grounded out to third.

The rings will come Friday.

But on Thursday, ahead of the first home game of the Dodgers’ 2025 season, reminders of the club’s 2024 World Series championship were everywhere — offering a sentimental (and not-so-subtle) indication of the stakes for this year’s title defense.

In the Dodgers’ newly renovated home clubhouse, the team’s typical home white jerseys were replaced with ceremonial championship threads; with names, numbers and the iconic ‘Dodgers’ script across the chest all colored in gold. During batting practice, stadium organist Dieter Ruhle graced a hazy afternoon scene with a playing of Queen’s “We are the Champions.” And in right field, the team’s seven previous World Series banners had been updated during offseason renovations to the stadium, with an eighth for 2024 unveiled shortly before first pitch.

⚾ Tigers 0, Dodgers 0 — First inning

Detroit’s Andy Ibanez lined a first-pitch fastball from Blake Snell to third for the first out. Gleyber Torres grounded out to Miguel Rojas at second base before Snell struck out Riley Greene to cap a 1-2-3 frame.

Dodgers legend and Detroit Tigers broadcaster Kirk Gibson threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Freddie Freeman at home plate before the start of the game.

Gibson’s throw was right on target, drawing a roar from the fans at Dodger Stadium.

Dodgers

How does Freddie Freeman process his place in World Series history? Ask Kirk Gibson

Five months after his walk-off grand slam to win Game 1 of the World Series, the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman is still absorbing the impact of it on fans — a feeling Kirk Gibson understands.

March 24, 2025

Ice Cube performed at Dodger Stadium during the World Series, so it would only make sense the Dodgers would invited him back for their home opener.

Instead of singing in the outfield, Ice Cube drove onto the field and delivered the World Series trophy to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts at home plate.

Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani were all smiles watching the spectacle.

Immediately after the trophy presentation, members of the Dodgers ownership team collectively raised the Dodgers’ 2024 World Series flag. Fire captains from the Pasadena and Los Angeles fire departments unveiled the Dodgers’ 2024 World Series sign.

Fire captains representing the Los Angeles and Pasadena fire departments unveil the official sign recognizing the Dodgers’ 2024 World Series championship before Thursday’s home opener.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The first time Jeff Banister stepped into a big-league clubhouse, it was 9 o’clock.

In the morning.

That night’s game wouldn’t start for another 10 hours, but when you’ve waited your whole life for that moment, there’s no point in putting it off even a second longer.

The first thing Banister saw when he entered the darkened room was a No. 28 Pittsburgh Pirates’ jersey hanging in a locker with his name, in black letters and gold trim, running from shoulder to shoulder. In the lockers on either side hung the jerseys of Barry Bonds and Bobby Bonilla.

“There was a security light. It was like a beacon on my jersey,” Banister said last month, his voice catching at a memory that is now 34 years old. “It kind of got real at that moment. Like, ‘Hey, I’m in the big leagues.’”

Freddie Freeman contemplated the question, stared quietly into the distance, then struggled to articulate an answer.

Five months after the fact, his swing for the ages was still sinking in.

On Oct. 25, in a night forever etched into Dodgers and Major League Baseball lore, Freeman delivered his walk-off grand slam in Game 1 of the World Series. With just one swing, he’d altered the outcome of a season, the fortunes of a franchise and the emotions of a fan base starved for more than three decades for a full-season championship.

But on this day, during the final week of Dodgers spring training earlier this month, Freeman said he was “still trying to process” his personal perspective on his moment of history.

(Victoria Cassinova / For The Times)

The mandate was set the moment the dancing Dodgers flooded the Yankee Stadium field on that glorious, gutsy October night.

One is not enough.

The bar was set the minute the Dodgers squeezed past the San Diego Padres then steamrolled all of New York to dominate baseball with their best team ever.

One is not enough.

When the Dodgers’ Guggenheim ownership group bought the team in 2012, one of its early hires was renowned sports architect Janet Marie Smith as executive vice president of planning and development.

And in her first couple of months on the job, one of her biggest tasks quickly became clear.

The clubhouse, she recalled, still felt like a “1962 locker room” — from the shared batting cage and food room used by the home and road teams to the dilapidated dressing room that harked back to Dodger Stadium’s opening a half-century earlier.

So that first offseason, the team did some immediate renovations, updating the space with more modern features and expanding its footprint to a more spacious two-level design.

In Tokyo, you can’t miss Shohei Ohtani. His picture is everywhere, in advertisements above street crossings and at the airport, on television and in magazines. He endorses shoes and skin care products, airlines and watches and so much more.

Those marketing deals have become so lucrative that Ohtani will make an estimated $100 million in endorsement revenue this year, without a penny from the Dodgers.

In its annual list of highest-paid major leaguers, Sportico reported Ohtani and Juan Soto of the New York Mets are poised to be the first MLB players to make $100 million in a season.

The Dodgers will visit the White House during their trip to Washington next month to face the Nationals, the team announced this week, continuing a tradition for championship teams of the major sports leagues.

“It’s certainly a huge honor to get the invitation to the White House,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Allows us to celebrate our 2024 championship.”

The visit, scheduled for April 7, will mark the Dodgers’ second trip to the White House in the last five years. In 2021, the team’s 2020 World Series title was celebrated by President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

TOKYO — It lasted just three innings. A grand total of 56 pitches. And it was nowhere near a flawless introduction to Major League Baseball.

But did Shotgun Roki ever put on one heck of a show.

Making his MLB debut Wednesday night, in front of his home nation at a sold-out Tokyo Dome and under immense pressure that had been building since his mid-January signing, Roki Sasaki ran the full gamut of emotions in the Dodgers’ 6-3 win over the Chicago Cubs, enduring the kind of twists and turns that likely will define his rookie season.

There was jaw-dropping stuff — from 100-mph fastballs to unhittable splitters and sliders.

Here are the starting lineups for the Dodgers and Detroit Tigers. Two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell will make his regular-season debut for the Dodgers opposite reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal.

First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. PDT (ESPN).

The first time Shohei Ohtani attempted to return from a Tommy John surgery, it did not initially go well.

In July 2020, more than 22 months removed from his first ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction as a rookie in 2018, Ohtani took the mound at Oakland Coliseum and failed to record an out, instead giving up five runs to the Athletics on three hits and three walks before being removed after 30 ineffective pitches.

A week later, in an Angels home game against the Houston Astros, the right-hander struggled again, needing 50 pitches to record five outs while giving up two more runs and issuing a staggering five walks.

Over the rest of that year’s 60-game season, Ohtani did not pitch again, getting shut down on the mound shortly after his second start when an MRI revealed a sprained flexor pronator mass in his right forearm. At no point during that pandemic-shortened campaign did Ohtani’s swing look right either, with the future three-time MVP posting MLB career-lows in batting average (.190), slugging percentage (.366) and OPS (.657).

For the first time this season, Dodgers fans can stream SportsNet LA without needing to buy something else they might not want.

Spectrum is offering a streaming-only subscription to the Dodgers’ television channel for $29.99 per month or $199.99 per year, the company announced.

The streaming service will be called SNLA+ and will be offered in partnership with Major League Baseball, which will provide the technology and carry the service on MLB.com and the MLB app. SNLA+ subscriptions are only available in the Dodgers’ local television market.

National League West superstars tend to be bunched on the Dodgers and San Diego Padres, which might have compelled two other teams to write a huge check during the offseason to lock in a player of undeniable impact.

A big NL West hello to Corbin Burnes of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Willy Adames of the San Francisco Giants.

Burnes, 30, is a top-rung starting pitcher, a Cy Young Award winner who regularly exceeds 30 starts and 200 strikeouts per season while keeping his earned-run average under 3.00. He signed for six years and $210 million.

Adames, 29, is a top-rung shortstop, a power hitter and clubhouse leader who compiled 32 home runs, 112 runs batted in and 21 stolen bases last season in Milwaukee. He signed for seven years and $182 million.

Mookie Betts’ trademark smile is back. As he walked off the field on his way back to the Dodgers clubhouse, he was in good spirits after his pregame warmup, exclaiming, “I feel great. Awesome. Normal.”

For Betts, Tuesday marked a return to normalcy, with the star shortstop back in the lineup against the Angels. Betts was slated to get “three at-bats, play four or five innings of defense,” according to manager Dave Roberts.

Coming back from his stomach ailment, Betts played into the sixth inning of the Dodgers’ 4-1 victory over the Angels. He finished 0 for 3 with a couple of groundouts and a foul out to first base.

When Dave Roberts addressed his full team for the first time this spring, he didn’t use the word dynasty.

On Feb. 15, during the opening week of Dodgers camp, the 10th-year manager did discuss the team’s World Series title, its expectations to repeat and the long road ahead to get there.

Roberts looked around a room — one that included the reigning National League and World Series most valuable players, two more former MVPs, two Cy Young Award winner who had combined to win the award five times, and a host of other All-Stars, big names and expensive free-agent acquisitions — and told the group they were at “the epicenter of baseball.”