Opening Day FAQ: Dodgers vs. Rockies

DENVER -- The Dodgers’ self-image is always one of royalty that is deeper than their Pantone 294 Blue. But on Thursday -- for the first time since Opening Day 1989 – they enter a season defending a crown after winning the 2020 World Series.

When they arrive at Coors Field, they’ll be greeted by a Rockies team that has an entirely new look, after they traded Nolan Arenado to the Cardinals and non-tendered David Dahl, which led to him signing with the Rangers.

Contrast couldn’t be starker when the teams meet Thursday at 2:10 p.m. MT/1:10 PT.

The Rockies are opening at home for the first time since 2011. After a year of no fans, cooperation between the Rockies and state and local government and health officials has made it possible to host 21,363 fans, or 42.6% of normal capacity. With temperatures expected to climb to 70, the game should be the perfect highlight for the crisp colors of a Colorado springtime.

Of course, that’s not why this game will be available on worldwide TV.

How loaded can manager Dave Roberts’ Dodgers be? Clayton Kershaw’s regal competitiveness. Mookie Betts’ arm and bat and speed -- and smile. Cody Bellinger and Corey Seager and their ability to do most anything. Then, they improve the already stellar pitching by signing Trevor Bauer and getting back David Price from sitting out last season because of COVID-19 concerns.

But manager Bud Black and the Rockies, who started last season 11-3 before thudding to a 26-34 finish, don’t want to be props for a coronation. The first three starters of this series, Germán Márquez, Antonio Senzatela and Jon Gray are a combined 7-1 with a 3.62 ERA in 16 starts against the Dodgers at Coors. If you’re going to try to win with pitching while an uncertain offense finds its legs, might as well start early.

When is the game and how can I watch it?

First pitch is scheduled for 2:10 p.m. MT/1:10 PT. The game will be carried by ESPN as part of its Opening Day quadruple-header. Both teams’ regional sports networks -- SportsNet LA and AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain also will have their crews telling the story.

The starting lineups

Dodgers: The Dodgers will tinker with it throughout the season, but almost every lineup will have Betts and Seager in the first two spots. Behind them, it’ll likely be Justin Turner and Bellinger. The Opening Day lineup is one we’ll see a lot in 2021, especially when Kershaw is on the mound. Will Smith will get the majority of starts behind the plate, but Austin Barnes has a better relationship with Kershaw, so he’ll get the Opening Day nod. Against a right-hander, expect Max Muncy to hit fifth and Gavin Lux to get the start at second.

Projected lineup

1. Mookie Betts, RF
2. Corey Seager, SS
3. Justin Turner, 3B
4. Cody Bellinger, CF
5. Max Muncy, 1B
6. AJ Pollock, LF
7. Gavin Lux, 2B
8. Austin Barnes, C
9. Clayton Kershaw, P

Rockies: Story and Charlie Blackmon are what’s left of a star-studded offensive lineup from just a few years ago. Without Arenado and Dahl, the Rockies will try to make up for their loss of power with new first baseman C.J. Cron, who has 30- and 25-homer seasons on the back of his baseball card, and with expected consistency from Ryan McMahon and several younger players. Raimel Tapia hit .321 at the top of the lineup last season. If he has the hot streaks that he has had in the past and can be selective, he can have a solid on-base percentage and have a shot at his goal -- the NL batting title.

Projected lineup

1. Raimel Tapia, LF
2. Garrett Hampson, CF
3. Trevor Story, SS
4. Charlie Blackmon, RF
5. C.J. Cron, 1B
6. Ryan McMahon, 2B
7. Joshua Fuentes, 3B
8. Elias Díaz, C
9. Germán Márquez, P

Who are the starting pitchers?

Dodgers: Injuries have prevented him from making yearly Opening Day starts, but Kershaw is scheduled to make his ninth Opening Day start Thursday, which would be the most in franchise history. Now that the games will count, Kershaw and the Dodgers are hoping for better results than what they saw in Arizona. Kershaw posted a 10.22 ERA over four spring starts, and he particularly struggled in his last two starts, allowing 13 runs over 7 1/3 innings. Kershaw said he expects to be better during the regular season.

Rockies: Márquez has been a word-of-mouth All-Star. As Black says, opposing managers, coaches, front-office members, even hitters consider Márquez one of the game’s more formidable starters. Even the numbers say so -- over the last four seasons, he ranks in the top seven in the NL in strikeouts, starts, innings pitched and wins. But the last two seasons he has struggled and it’s cost him acclaim. Last year’s opener, when he gave up one run on two hits in 5 2/3 innings of a 1-0 loss at Texas, sums up what has happened. Márquez struggled with his fastball out of the stretch during Spring Training, but otherwise felt good about his preparation.

How will the bullpens line up after the starter?

Dodgers: The Dodgers will carry eight relievers to start the season, and they’ll all be ready to go on Opening Day. Corey Knebel and Blake Treinen will be leverage relievers in the middle innings for the Dodgers, while Kenley Jansen will be the team’s closer again. Jansen had a solid spring and the bullpen’s success could depend on how effective the veteran right-hander is this season.

Rockies: The Rockies are most sure about the ninth inning, with Daniel Bard coming off a NL Comeback Player of the Year performance in 2020. Setting him up will be an evolving situation. Yency Almonte and Tyler Kinley are coming off solid springs. Mychal Givens did not put up good spring numbers, but as a veteran with a solid track record, the Rockies aren’t worried. Two setup men from last year, Carlos Estévez and Jairo Díaz, pitched poorly in the spring, although Estévez’s numbers could be because he was experimenting with some changes.

Any injuries of note?

Dodgers: The Dodgers were able to get out of Spring Training without a major injury. They didn’t, however, completely avoid the injury bug. Right-handers Joe Kelly and Brusdar Graterol will both start the season on the injured list. Kelly dealt with an undisclosed injury and never really got going during camp. Graterol, on the other hand, had a slow buildup this spring due to non-injury issues over the offseason. He didn’t appear in Cactus League games and it’s unclear how long he’ll be sidelined.

Rockies: Lefty Kyle Freeland would have started Saturday’s second game, but he’ll miss at least one month with a left shoulder strain sustained during Spring Training. The injury was not as extensive as expected. Rookie second baseman Brendan Rodgers, a longtime prospect who looked ready for his first big chance, will begin the year on the injured list with a right hamstring strain, but he has been making progress over recent days. The Rockies were hit hard during camp when righty reliever Scott Oberg needed emergency surgery for recurring blood clots -- the fourth time it has happened during his career.

Who is hot and who is not?

Dodgers: Seager, Lux and Taylor were the Dodgers’ three hottest hitters this spring. Seager, who is entering the last year of his current deal, hit eight home runs and looked like a player poised to do damage this season. Lux won the everyday second base job with an impressive spring, capping it off with a homer against Andrew Heaney during the Freeway Series. Muncy got off to a slow start this spring, but the Dodgers first baseman seems to be picking it up at the right time. He launched two home runs in Sunday’s game against the Angels.

Rockies: Cron showed up on a Minor League contract, but the plan all along was for him to start at first base. The Rockies hope his solid spring numbers portend a year of production from a position that has been troublesome. Owings, another non-roster player expected to contribute, might end up piecing together everyday at-bats at multiple positions. Josh Fuentes, who found his way onto the field last year, hit solidly and made enough plays at the infield corners that he’ll be hard to keep off the field. Blackmon and Story hovered below .200, but they have been so productive for so long that no one was counting. While Hampson’s numbers were solid by spring’s end, the Rockies are trusting that McMahon and Tapia used the spring to concentrate on specific issues and are ready to roll.