GLENDALE, Ariz. — The pitching matchups for the first regular-season MLB games in South Korea were announced on Monday. And they are expensive.
The Dodgers will start right-hander Tyler Glasnow in the first game on March 20 and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the second game against the San Diego Padres on March 21. Glasnow signed a five-year, $136.5 million contract extension after the Dodgers acquired him from the Tampa Bay Rays in December. Yamamoto signed a record 12-year, $325 million deal in December despite not having pitched in the majors yet.
The Dodgers’ Seoul-mates, the Padres, will start Yu Darvish in the first game and Joe Musgrove in the second. Darvish and Musgrove each signed contract extensions with the Padres in the past two years for $108 million and $100 million, respectively.
“It means everything,” Glasnow said of being selected to front the Dodgers’ rebuilt starting rotation. “Just to sign here, that all being a reality feels crazy. Then when they told me I was the Opening Day starter, I definitely felt a lot of pride and excitement.”
It will be Glasnow’s second Opening Day start. He also started the 2021 opener for the Rays.
“First off, we feel both guys are top-end guys,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “But if you look at the schedule for Yoshinobu going out, it sets up more for potential days of rest.”
Yamamoto pitched just once a week throughout his career in Japan and has been on that same schedule this spring. He will make his third Cactus League start on Wednesday – his third consecutive Wednesday start.
“They are supporting me for me to maintain my regular routine from Japan and they’re giving me enough space to do that,” Yamamoto said through his interpreter.
“I’m having kind of a ‘Cloud Nine’ feeling. This is the first time they’re having opening games in Korea so I’m looking forward to performing at my best for Korean fans.”
The Dodgers will have six days off between the Seoul…
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