Dodgers Update for March 25th, 2018

Good afternoon, Dodger fans, we are in the home stretch for Opening Day, as the annual three game preseason “Freeway Series” starts tonight in Anaheim at 6:07 p.m.

A look at Dodger news and views today.

Eric Stephen at True Blue L.A. indicates that Yimi Garcia will not start the season on the team’s roster and that it appears the 13 man pitching staff has been set.  Garcia, who has not pitched in a game in 2 years, posted a 6.35 ERA this spring.  Manager Dave Roberts indicates Garcia is still on a progression to return to pitching at a major league level, but is healthy.

Bill Plascke in the Los Angeles Times writes about Dodgers Spanish language broadcaster Jaime Jarrin.  Jarrin, who has been broadcasting games for 60 seasons, has long been the Spanish laguage answer in Los Angeles to Vin Scully.  To read up on Jarrin’s career and connection to the latino community in Los Angeles, go ahead and click the link.

Jim Allen of Kyodo writes in the Japan Times about Kenta Maeda’s return to the starting rotation.  Maeda was effective in relief for the Dodgers last season at times, including 10 2/3 of relief in the playoffs in which he struck out ten and surrendered only one run.  But the plan to switch Maeda back to the starting rotation is permanent, per Manager Dave Roberts.

It’s way too early to tell for sure, but Barry Lewis of Tulsa World believes the Dodgers will be returning to the World Series this year.

How much power did the Dodgers hit for this year?  Cary Osborne of Dodgers Insider has the answer: the Dodgers hit 52 homers in Cactus League Play.  This marks the highest number of homers the Dodgers have hit in spring training league play dating back to their move to Camelback Ranch in 2009.  That 52nd and final homer of the spring was hit by catcher Austin Barnes, who has struggled to find his stroke to this point but did drive in all three Dodger runs with his three run blast in the first inning of a 7-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

Only a few more hours until baseball returns to Southern California.  Enjoy the Dodgers and the Angels renewal of the annual rite of spring passage, the Freeway Series, tonight!