Nationals @ Dodgers April 9, 2021: Home opener + World Series ring ceremony

For the first time since Game 5 of the 2019 National League Division Series — coincidentally, against the eventual World Series champion Nationals — the Dodgers will host fans, but this time, as current World Series Champions. Walker Buehler draws the home opening start. He’ll be opposed by Joe Ross.

Nationals	Dodgers
1:10 p.m.	Los Angeles
CF Robles	CF Taylor
SS Turner	SS Seager
RF Soto	3B Turner
1B Zimmerman	1B Muncy
3B Castro	C Smith
2B Garcia	2B Lux
LF Stevenson	LF Pollock
C Lucroy	RF McKinstry
P Ross (R)	P Buehler (R)

The Dodgers are coming off an extra-inning loss in Oakland on Wednesday — a game they let get away with some poor hitting with runners in scoring position and some not-so-great bullpen work.

The Nationals — after a COVID-fueled delayed start to their season, are playing in their second series of the season after dropping two of three to the Braves.

Still no Cody Bellinger, who’s now on the injured list. Chris Taylor draws the start in center field in his place.

The IL move is retroactive to Tuesday, which means Bellinger could return next Friday

— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) April 9, 2021

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No matter what happens on the field today, this day is about the rings.

The rings have arrived. pic.twitter.com/OHo5KfA4mz

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 9, 2021

The stage is set for the World Series Champions. pic.twitter.com/AVu2MNLZOT

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 9, 2021

Here it is!

Also, these are the uniforms the boys will be donning today.

All gold everything for the Champs.

The gold jerseys and caps will go on sale at Dodger Stadium, Dodgers Clubhouse stores throughout LA and https://t.co/9I0nt1NziT on April 9 at 12pm! pic.twitter.com/yL491Ze1PM

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 5, 2021

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Here are some notes from the beat/national reporters.

Brusdar Graterol and Joe Kelly are here for the ring ceremony. Graterol has been throwing for a few weeks now. Roberts said he's "getting closer." Kelly is further behind.

— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) April 9, 2021

This isn’t surprising.

Multiple suspicious baseballs from Dodgers’ Trevor Bauer sent to MLB for inspection. Latest attempted crackdown by league being put to test. Story: https://t.co/3tB5JkQxsi

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) April 9, 2021

We’ll see if anything comes from this, but the Trevor Bauer era is off to a great start.

https://twitter.com/No_Little_Plans/status/1380532298446221315