Dodgers Won’t Face Cardinals’ Ace in First Domestic Series

The Los Angels Dodgers returned to the United States with a somewhat odd schedule ahead of them.

Even though the Dodgers are 1-1 after splitting the two-game Seoul Series with the San Diego Padres in South Korea, their next three games won’t count in the standings. The first two games of the Freeway Series will be played Sunday and Monday at Dodger Stadium, and the third game against the Angels will be played Tuesday in Anaheim.

After Wednesday’s off-day, the St. Louis Cardinals will visit Dodger Stadium on Thursday, March 28, “Opening Day” around the rest of Major League Baseball.

When the Dodgers play their first domestic series of 2024, they will be catching a break.

Pitcher Sonny Gray will start the season on the 15-day injured list, manager Oli Marmol confirmed Friday. Outfielder Lars Nootbaar will start the year on the 10-day IL too. Gray’s injury means left-hander Zack Thompson will get a rotation job to start the season.

Although Gray’s hamstring injury was not a new revelation, the Cardinals waited until Friday to rule out their $75 million pitcher for their first series of 2024.

The Cardinals signed Gray to a three-year contract to helm a rotation including Miles Mikolas, Lance Lynn, Steven Matz and Kyle Gibson. Those four are likely to face the Dodgers in Los Angeles in some order.

The St. Louis outfield is in even worse shape than its rotation. According to MLB Trade Rumors:

As for Nootbaar, he injured himself making a catch a couple of weeks back and was diagnosed with two nondisplaced fractures in his ribs. Since Tommy Edman also going to start the season on the shelf, the Cards will be without two thirds of their planned starting outfield. Edman has still been experiencing pain in his surgically repaired right wrist.

— via MLBTradeRumors.com

Gray, 34, went 8-8 with a 2.79 ERA in 32 starts for the Minnesota Twins last year with an American League-best 2.83 FIP. He made his third career All-Star team.

Photo Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

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