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Where to buy Dodgers tickets on Opening Day

The official way to buy tickets to any big league game is through the MLB Ballpark app, or through the Dodgers official ticket website if you're on a computer. Tickets are also available on the secondary market through apps such as Ticketmaster, Gametime, SeatGeek, Stubhub and TickPick.

It's worth noting that even if you buy from the secondary market, you'll still need the MLB Ballpark app as your tickets will be automatically transferred over to there after purchasing.

For fans wanting to go a more old school route and avoid buying online, tickets can be bought in person at the box office at Dodger Stadium, which opens three hours before first pitch. Tickets sold at the box office are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

How much are Dodgers Opening Day tickets?

While the Dodgers have traditionally been one of the more affordable tickets in town, that's begun to change in recent years as demand — and the team's payroll — has skyrocketed. You can expect to spend quite a bit for Opening Day especially, though the prices tend to come down the closer it gets to first pitch.

As of 7:30 p.m. Pacific Time on Wednesday, the get-in price on the Dodgers website is $155.60 — including fees — for a single ticket in the right field reserve level. The most expensive ticket is going for $3,137.10 behind home plate.

Tickets are going for around the same prices on most of the secondary apps, with the average somewhere around the $200-$400 range.

And don't forget parking; the price of general admission is going up to $45 this season.

The prepaid (online) price is $40. pic.twitter.com/OIfT0qorpP

— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) March 23, 2026

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Los Angeles Dodgers ticket prices, where to buy

No time like the present

The Nationals just got done with their first training camp under an almost entirely new regime following the July firings of club president Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez. Butera urged his very young team to take chances early in camp, to try to stretch the limits of their potential and do “uncomfortable” things.

“Everything’s been good work,” shortstop CJ Abrams, an All-Star in 2024, tells USA TODAY Sports. “A lot of productive stuff. A lot of information and technology we’re putting to use. I think we’re ready.

“He’s the skip, and anything we need, communication has been good. We’re ready to go.”

Butera won’t be the first manager to be younger than some of his players; most recently, Rocco Baldelli, then 37, managed 39-year-old Nelson Cruz for the 2019 Minnesota Twins.

Somewhat remarkably, the Nationals are so young that only veteran starter Miles Mikolas, 37, is older than Butera, with 28-year-old catcher Keibert Ruiz the oldest regular. While the Nationals downplay the notion that their skipper’s age aids his relatability, Butera has proven he can appear well in any company.

“Blake is even-keeled and I admire that in him – how he can really regulate his emotions,’ says first-year Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz, who worked alongside Butera in the Rays’ organization. “He’s someone that could’ve stayed the front office route and been a GM someday, and now he’s a big league manager.

“It shows his versatility and how impactful he is and a lot of that stems from being able to navigate different conversations with different people – front office, players, coaches.”

Butera figures his youth sets an ambitious example, one that could resonate through what could be a lengthy rebuild: If you’re ready to achieve, why wait?

“My job is to work my butt off, make sure all these guys are fully prepared to play and we’ve set them up to have success,” he says. “I know I’m younger, and if it helps someone feel like they can accomplish something at a young age, I hope I can be that person to help them.”

How to watch Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks

• When: Thursday, March 26, 5:30 p.m. PT (8:30 p.m. ET)
• Where: Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles)
• TV: NBC
• Streaming: Peacock, Fubo

Dodgers projected starting lineup:

P: Yoshinobu Yamamoto

C: Will Smith

1B: Freddie Freeman

2B: Miguel Rojas

3B:  Max Muncy

SS: Mookie Betts

LF: Teoscar Hernandez

CF: Andy Pages

RF: Kyle Tucker

DH: Shohei Ohtani

Diamondbacks projected starting lineup:

P: Zac Gallen

C: Gabriel Moreno

1B: Carlos Santana

2B: Ketel Marte

3B: Nolan Arenado

SS: Geraldo Perdomo

LF: Jordan Lawlar

CF: Alek Thomas

RF: Corbin Carroll

DH: Pavin Smith

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dodgers Opening Day: How to watch, potential lineup vs. Diamondbacks

Dodgers storylines heading into Opening Day

Miguel Rojas entering final season after World Series heroics

Miguel Rojas has been established as one of the Dodgers' leaders in the clubhouse ever since his return to the team in 2023. He's served as a mentor to several younger players on the roster and notably helped Mookie Betts in his transition from right field to becoming a Gold Glove finalist at shortstop last season. One thing he's never been in his 12-year career, however, is a power hitter.

Which made it all the more shocking in Game 7 of the World Series when Rojas, down to the Dodgers' final two outs and with Shohei Ohtani on deck, worked the count full before launching a slider from Toronto Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman into the left field seats at Rogers Centre to tie it up before the Dodgers eventually went on to win it 5-4 in 11 innings for their second consecutive World Series championship.

He was equal parts an unlikely hero and the perfect person for the moment.

But even before then, Rojas has made it known that 2026 would be his last before retirement. He re-signed with the Dodgers in December on a one-year $5.5 million deal and transition into a player development role assisting the front office in 2027.

He's made it clear however, that he doesn't want to be treated as an elder statesman in his final season.

"This year, I have a different perspective because I'm not afraid to empty the tank anymore," Rojas told Jomboy Media's Jack Oliver. "... I want to take every single opportunity, every single at-bat that I can and help the team in any capacity.

"Kind of the same mentality that Kersh had last season."

Roki Sasaki's spring training struggles

Speaking of postseason heroes, Roki Sasaki's transition back into a starting role after returning from a right shoulder impingement and becoming one of Roberts' go-to arms out of the bullpen last October hasn't exactly inspired much confidence.

In his 8.2 innings pitched across four starts, Sasaki gave up 15 runs on nine hits and two homers and walked 15 batters to 12 strikeouts for an abysmal 2.77 WHIP. And while spring training isn't about results or even productivity, his performance has led to the re-emergence of doubts that plagued much of his rookie season pre-injury.

Nevertheless, Roberts is sticking by Sasaki. Some of that is due to necessity — Blake Snell and Gavin Stone both starting the season on the injured list leaves little room for flexibility in the rotation — but the Dodgers are committed to Sasaki as a starter regardless.

"It hasn't been great. It really hasn't," Roberts told reporters on Monday. "We know that the standard needs to be better. He knows that. We know that. And then now it's go time and see how he can perform when the lights come on."

Bold predictions for 2026

Shohei Ohtani will be in the Cy Young conversation

For everything Ohtani has already accomplished in his first two years as a Dodger, it's hard to fathom that 2026 will be his first as a full-time two-way player with the team. Since undergoing his second right elbow surgery in September 2023, Ohtani was a full-time DH in his 50/50 season in 2024 and made 14 starts on the mound last season, posting a 2.87 ERA over 47 innings while striking out 62 batters and walking just nine before throwing another 20 1/3 innings in October.

This year the Dodgers weren't sure where Ohtani would be in his throwing progression after returning from the World Baseball Classic, but in true Ohtani fashion, he silenced any doubts by punching out 11 through the first four innings on 79 pitches in his final spring training tune-up on Tuesday.

Shohei -- the pitcher -- looks ready to go!

11 strikeouts in 4+ innings for Ohtani 😤 pic.twitter.com/YocDJMLKgy

— MLB (@MLB) March 25, 2026

The Dodgers want Ohtani to go wire-to-wire as a starter this season, a need further exacerbated by the injuries to Snell and Stone that has depleted the rotation's depth. It's a big ask, but Ohtani's track record speaks for itself.

"Regardless of my expectations for him, his are going to exceed those," Roberts told reporters at the beginning of spring training. "I think it's fair to say he expects to be in the Cy Young conversation. But we just want him to be healthy and make starts. All the numbers and statistics will take care of themselves."

One thing working in Ohtani's favor is the fact that this has been his first "normal" offseason with no injury rehab in three years. Out of all the awards he's won in his storied career, the Cy Young has been elusive. The closest he's come was 2022, when he finished fourth in the voting after he started a career-high 28 games and posted a 2.33 ERA with 219 strikeouts to 44 walks and a 1.01 WHIP.

FanGraphs projects Ohtani to make 23 starts this season, which would be his most since 2023.

Teoscar Hernández has a bounce-back season

When Hernández first arrived in Los Angeles two years ago, his big bat and big personality quickly made him a fan favorite. It helped that he had one of the most productive seasons of his career in 2024, finishing top 10 in the NL in home runs (a career-high 33), RBI (99), slugging percentage (.501) and OPS (.820) and was selected as an All-Star for the second time in his 10 years in the big leagues.

But he regressed in 2025. His SLG dipped to .454 and his .738 OPS was his worst since his rookie season with the Houston Astros in 2016, when he played just 41 games. He also drew plenty criticism, at times publicly from Roberts himself, for his defense in right field and was the subject of trade rumors over the winter.

With Kyle Tucker slotting in at right field, Hernández has a bit less pressure on him defensively as he slides over to left. He also reportedly showed up to spring training 10 pounds trimmer, and the early results seem promising. His five home runs this spring led the Dodgers. In his 19 games played, Hernández posted an eye-popping .449/.491/.837 slash line for an OPS of 1.328.

Teoscar Hernández crushes his second home run in as many days! pic.twitter.com/Io5OUtKGLU

— MLB (@MLB) March 24, 2026

Again, spring training is more about working through mechanics than results, but it's clear that Hernández is playing with some kind of newfound drive or motivation. The Dodgers' lineup is already incredibly deep as it is, but if Hernández can return to his 2024 form they'd be as close to unstoppable as a lineup can get.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Los Angeles Dodgers 2026 storylines, predictions, season preview

Most underrated moves of the 2025-26 MLB offseason

5) Mike Burrows traded to the Houston Astros

Despite many fans believing the Houston Astros were going to take a step back last year, the team nearly reached the postseason with an 87-75 record. That record came despite the team's back-end of the starting rotation posting a 4.69 ERA.

One of the team's top starters, Framber Valdez, left in free agency, joining the Detroit Tigers. Thusly, many experts believed the Astros would be trotting into 2026 with one of the worst rotations in baseball. But the team made some sneaky good moves this offseason, including the acquisition of Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai and the trade for the Pirates' Mike Burrows.

Burrows isn't a name with a ton of notoriety, but he is a solid middle-of-the-rotation arm, which is exactly what Houston needs. The 26-year-old posted a 3.96 ERA in 96 innings a season ago, but more importantly, he boasted one of the best changeups in baseball, per Baseball Savant.

This is a guy who has great stuff. He may not be an elite talent that wins a championship, but he isn't expected to be that. He is expected to be a No. 3 or 4 starter, and Burrows provides potential for more. He also has six years of team control under his belt.

4) Harrison Bader to the San Francisco Giants (2 years, $20.5 million)

Bader may be entering his age-32 season, but he hasn't slowed down, it seems. Last year was the best season of his career offensively, and it doesn't appear to be a fluke. Skeptics might point out that most of his projected stats say that he exceeded expectations a season ago, with just a .220 expected batting average and .295 xWOBA, putting him on pace with his prior seasons.

However, some underlying metrics point to a potential resurgence for Bader. Most notably, his bat speed. The 32-year-old increased his swing speed by nearly two ticks a season ago, pushing him from the 38th percentile in MLB to the 71st percentile in just one year. It's no shock that that coincides with his 17 home runs, the most of his career for a single season.

The Giants have long struggled to find consistency in their outfield. However, their starting trio of Jung Hoo Lee, Heliot Ramos, and now Harrison Bader has the potential to be one of the most complete in baseball.

3) Sonny Gray traded to the Boston Red Sox

People look at Boston, notice they lost Lucas Giolito and gained Sonny Gray and think they are in a worse position than they are now. It is easy to think that. It makes sense, but there is a lot to like about Sonny Gray despite him losing nearly a mile per hour on his fastball a season ago and entering his age-36 season.

The first positive note is that Sonny Gray's expected stats were nearly a full tick lower than what his ERA ended up being (4.28). His FIP (3.39) and xERA (3.88) were both better than what Giolito produced a season ago. Not only that, but Gray also posted a 5.29 strikeout-to-walk ratio, the best in the National League. Combine those two statements and Gray is someone primed for a bounce-back.

But the most obvious positive for Gray is that he likely won't get as unlucky as he did last year. In 2025, Gray had six starts in which he gave up at least six runs in the first inning. Prior to 2025, he only had three such starts in 2024, and only one such start in 2023, 2022, and 2021. Even if, in 2025, Gray matched his mark from 2024, his ERA likely would've been easily under 4.0 last season.

Keep in mind, Gray is still very good at getting hitters to chase outside the zone, posting a 31.2% chase rate last year. He's also very good at creating ground balls, ranking in the 66th percentile with a 45.1% rate in 2025. There's a lot to like about Gray going into next year.

2) Cody Ponce to the Toronto Blue Jays (3 years, $30 million)

If the World Baseball Classic has shown us anything, it's that Japanese and Korean baseball are not to be taken lightly. The NPB and KBO have produced some very impactful MLB players over the years.

Ponce was KBO MVP last season, with a 1.89 ERA across 180.2 innings while striking out 252 batters. Let those numbers speak for themselves.

Sure, Ponce has never found success in the United States, but this time feels different. Most notably, his fastball has increased in velocity substantially from his 2021 stint with the Pirates. Back then, he was only hitting 93. Now, he's routinely touching 97.

The Blue Jays certainly made their splash in the rotation when they added Dylan Cease, but Ponce is someone who is coming into the year with back-end expectations and could provide much more for a rather team-friendly price.

1) Brad Keller to the Philadelphia Phillies (2 years, $22 million)

No one ever gets giddy over signing a middle reliever, but Phillies fans should be ecstatic at the addition of Keller. Last year, the 29-year-old had a staggering increase in fastball velocity, adding nearly 3.5 mph to his fastball from 93.8 to 97.2 in just one season. That velo was a major factor in Keller's career year, in which he posted a 2.07 ERA.

Oh, but it's not just his fastball you should be excited about. Keller's sweeper produced an incredible .067 batting average against with a 45.8% whiff rate. Yes, those numbers are even better than they sound.

He was absolutely lights out against right-handed batters and still very serviceable against lefties. He'll be a tremendous addition to the Phillies bullpen, making it that much easier for the team to get to Jhoan Duran in the ninth innings with the lead intact. Given that Philadelphia's bullpen ranked 20th in baseball with a 4.25 ERA last year, Keller is a steal at $11 million a year, helping fix Philadelphia's biggest weakness from a season ago.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The five most underrated moves of the MLB offseason ranked

Top MLB rookies to watch in 2026

1. SP Nolan McLean, New York Mets

Already battle-tested through 48 innings last season (50 is the limit to retain rookie eligibility) and his two starts in the World Baseball Classic, McLean, 24, begins the 2026 campaign with a spot in the Mets rotation and a fully stocked six-pitch arsenal. He was a two-way player when he was drafted in 2023 out of Oklahoma State, so he's only scratching the surface of his pitching talent.

2. 2B JJ Wetherholt, St. Louis Cardinals

The rebuilding Cardinals have every reason to have their top prospect and 2024 first-round pick (7th overall) in the everyday lineup. Wetherholt, 23, played mostly shortstop in the minors, but will move to second base with Gold Glover Masyn Winn already in place. He won't hit for a ton of power initially, but he does make good contact and could potentially lead off.

3. 1B Sal Stewart, Cincinnati Reds

The power-hitting corner infielder slugged .545 in 55 major league at-bats last season at age 21. Coming off an equally impressive spring, Stewart has been penciled in as the Reds' cleanup hitter behind star shortstop Elly De La Cruz. He frequently hits the ball hard and in the air, which is an excellent combination in Cincinnati's Great American Smallpark.

4. OF Carson Benge, New York Mets

Just announced as the Mets' opening day starter in right field, Benge (like teammate McLean, an Oklahoma State alum) soared up prospect rankings in his first full professional season. He slashed .281/.385/.472 over three minor league levels, but did hit a wall after a late promotion to Class AAA. However, a strong spring was a good indication the 23-year-old is ready for the majors.

5. SS Kevin McGonigle, Detroit Tigers

Perhaps the best pure hitter in the minors, McGonigle was the MVP of the Arizona Fall League and has posted a .923 OPS in 52 plate appearances this spring. On Tuesday, the Tigers officially announced that he's won a spot on their opening day roster at the tender age of 21. He has excellent plate discipline and could hit near the top of the lineup. Defensively, he can also play third base if the Tigers want to put veteran Javier Baez at short.

FANTASY BASEBALL: MLB rookies poised to make major impact in 2026

While those players comprise our top five rookies, they're by no means the only exciting prospects to keep an eye on this season.

USA TODAY Sports' 2025 Minor League Player of the Year, Konnor Griffin of the Pirates, was just sent to the minors for a bit more seasoning. The 19-year-old − he turns 20 on April 24 − only reached Class AA last year so while his skills are fully apparent (.941 OPS, 21 HR, 65 SB over three levels) he did struggle at times during spring training. Once he shows he can master Triple-A, he should be up soon afterward.

Justin Crawford, son of former MLB All-Star Carl Crawford, should be the Phillies' everyday center fielder. He's a speed burner who makes excellent contact.

At least three other rookies are slated to begin the year in their MLB teams' starting rotations, with Toronto right-hander Trey Yesavage (shoulder) joining them after what's expected to be a brief stint on the injured list.

Honorable mention: SS Konnor Griffin and SP Bubba Chandler, Pittsburgh Pirates; SP Chase Burns, Cincinnati Reds; SP Trey Yesavage, Toronto Blue Jays; OF Justin Crawford and SP Andrew Painter, Philadelphia Phillies; C/DH Samuel Basallo, Baltimore Orioles; OF Chase DeLauter, Cleveland Guardians.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB rookies to watch: Mets' Nolan McLean leads the way