The 2024 Major League Baseball season is kicking off with an exciting match between two National League heavyweights – the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers. The Cardinals had a disappointing 71-91 season in 2023, marking their first losing season since 2007 and first 90-loss campaign since 1990. On the other hand, the Dodgers continued their winning streak by securing their 11th consecutive trip to the postseason after winning 100 games. The Dodgers also made significant moves in the offseason, signing free agents Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
The Cardinals will face off against the Dodgers on Thursday, March 28 at 4:10 p.m. ET at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Fans can catch the game through live streams on Fubo or MLB.TV, while it will be broadcasted on SportsNet LA and Bally Sports Midwest. The probable pitchers for the game are RHP Miles Mikolas for the Cardinals and RHP Tyler Glasnow for the Dodgers. The odds are in favor of the Dodgers with an over/under of 8.5 runs.
For the Cardinals, veteran right-hander Sonny Gray was initially scheduled to start on Opening Day but a hamstring injury during spring training landed him on the injured list. This leaves Mikolas to step into his place, despite his subpar performance in 2023. The Cardinals’ rotation, apart from Gray, is a concern as they added Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn during the offseason. Age and effectiveness are issues that could affect their pitching.
On the Dodgers side, they have already started their regular season with a series against the Padres in the Korea Series. The game against the Cardinals will mark Ohtani’s home debut after signing a record-breaking deal with the Dodgers. However, Ohtani’s career with the Dodgers has been overshadowed by a gambling scandal that is still unfolding. Despite the distractions, Ohtani’s presence on the team brings excitement to the 2024 season opener.