LOS ANGELES – It was Opening Day in the MLB domestically, and although it wasn’t the first official game for the Dodgers in 2024, it certainly felt like it. Dodger Stadium was rocking in anticipation for the home debuts of Shohei Ohtani, Teoscar Hernandez, and Tyler Glasnow, and boy did they show up. 

Shohei Ohtani went 2-3 with a walk, Freddie Freeman went 2-3 with a home run and three RBI, and Mookie Betts launched a solo blast of his own to go along with two walks. This offense flexed its muscles through the first five innings and coasted to a dominant win behind the excellent start by Tyler Glasnow. 

The Dodgers only needed two pitchers to win 7-1, with Ryan Yarbrough throwing three scoreless innings to get the save in relief. 

The Dodgers are now 2-1 atop the National League West.

Here are my three takeaways:

The New Big Three Dominates 

The home debut for Shohei Ohtani was something out of a Hollywood movie, and Dodger Stadium isn’t too far from it. The sheer dominance of the three stars at the top of the lineup proved why everyone was so excited about the prospect of adding Ohtani to an already loaded roster. 

Through the first two plate appearances for each of the top three in the lineup, they were 4-4 and reached in every single appearance to give the Dodgers a 5-0 lead. It still seems like a bit of a dream to see this in action, but Dodger fans showed up and showed out for the first time at Chavez Ravine in 2024. 

Ohtani had one of the loudest introductions for a debut that I think I have ever heard, and promptly did damage, with a double down the line. You cannot pitch around anybody through the first four hitters in the lineup simply due to the firepower that each possess, and if this is any indication of how the season will go, the league better watch out. 

Tyler Glasnow Shows Why He Can Be An Ace

The first start for Glasnow in Korea was shaky, and while he noted that he did not feel comfortable, he looked comfortable at home. The final line for Glasnow was six innings, giving up only two hits and a single earned run while striking out five. He made it look easy and the command was on point to go along with his filthy pitch repertoire. 

This is the exact version of Tyler Glasnow that I always believed the Dodgers had acquired. His fastball was electric, reaching 96-98 MPH consistently, and the curveball was devastating low in the zone. If there is anything you should take away from this start, it is that Glasnow looks healthy and ready to be the ace of the rotation in 2024. 

Total Team Win

I know I have talked purely about the new acquisitions thus far, but we have to remember that there are still excellent players around them. James Outman went 2-3 with an RBI, newly extended Will Smith and Max Muncy picked up knocks and Jason Heyward made an excellent diving catch in right field. 

Ryan Yarbrough looked fantastic in relief of Glasnow too, using his finesse delivery and command to stymie the Cardinals lineup. Using Yarbrough as a long relief, piggyback type of pitcher, is huge for a club in the Dodgers that do not like to use their starters past the six or seven inning mark, and will save the arms of many throughout the season. 

This team looks ready, hungry, and insanely talented already. 

The Dodgers will send Bobby Miller to the mound to face Zack Thompson for St. Louis Friday. First pitch is set for 7:10 PM PST.