TEMPE, Ariz. –– Saturday might have only been a symbolic first step in their quest for a third straight World Series title.
But the dynasty Dodgersalready looked like a juggernaut.
Even in a meaningless spring training contest that included only a few of their big-name stars, the Dodgers kicked off their 2026 campaign with a 15-2 rout of the Angels in their Cactus League opener, hanging nine runs on the Tempe Diablo Stadium scoreboard before nine outs had even been recorded in the game.
“It was a very good overall day for us,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Scored a lot of runs and got a lot of guys at-bats.”
The last time the Dodgers were in action, they were lifting the Commissioner’s Trophy after their Game 7 win in the World Series against the Blue Jays.
In 112 days since then, expectations have only been raised.
The team once again boasts a $400 million payroll, easily leading the sport and raising the spectre of a lockout next season.It added Kyle Tucker and Edwin Díazto its collection of superstar talent over the winter, making anything less than another World Series this year a failure for the two-time defending champions.
For now, however, the Dodgers’ task is simple: try to get their aging, but also rejuvenated, roster through this spring unscathed.
And on a sunny Arizona afternoon Saturday, they made a positive first impression in their return to the diamond.
While Tucker, Díaz and most of the team’s other stars weren’t in the lineup,Shohei Ohtani was still leading offas designated hitter, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto was back on the mound after a quick offseason turnaround.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
