Steve Webb
The Los Angeles Dodgers opened the 2025 season at Chavez Ravine in style on Friday afternoon, edging the Detroit Tigers 5-4 in a game full of energy, drama, and gold-trimmed celebration. Manager Dave Roberts praised both the ceremony and his club’s resilience in a postgame interview filled with appreciation—and a little nostalgia.
A Day to Remember at Dodger Stadium
Roberts opened his remarks by reflecting on the pregame festivities, which honored the Dodgers’ 2024 World Series championship.
“I thought the ceremony was fantastic,” he said. “Obviously a beautiful day. Acknowledging what we accomplished in 2024. Thought the fans were really into it.”
From the gold-accented uniforms to the presence of Dodger legend Kirk Gibson and hip-hop icon Ice Cube, the event hit all the right notes.
“The presentation with Freddy meet Gibby—I thought Gibby throwing out the first pitch was fantastic,” Roberts added. “These gold hats and uniforms—we nailed it, I thought.”
He also took a moment to acknowledge the presence of Ice Cube, now a familiar face at Dodger Stadium. “He’s now a stalwart with the Dodgers,” Roberts said with a smile. “I used to love his music as a young kid and to kind of see him here front and center—that’s been fun too.”
Blake Snell Grinds Through His Dodgers Debut
Blake Snell, making his first regular season start as a Dodger, battled through five innings to earn the win, despite some early traffic on the bases.
“I don’t think there were nerves, per se,” Roberts said. “But I thought he made pitches when he needed to make pitches… There were some soft contact hits, certainly some walks, but he got through five, got the win.”
Snell’s ability to limit damage impressed his manager. “The takeaway is he made pitches and bared down and minimized damage—and that’s what he does.”
Teoscar Hernández Delivers in a Big Spot
One of the biggest moments of the game came courtesy of Teoscar Hernández, who launched a three-run homer after a lineup shuffle placed him in the third spot against Tigers lefty Tarik Skubal.
“Tayo is a guy that it’s not surprising,” Roberts said. “Obviously there were some forgettable at-bats in the first couple. But he just doesn’t panic.”
Roberts explained his reasoning for hitting Hernández in front of Freddie Freeman: “There’s a reason why I hit him third in front of Freddy against a left-hander. I just like him in that spot.”
That trust paid off. “Skubal tried to sneak a heater by him in the third at-bat and he made him pay. So, really big swing.”
Ohtani Shines Again
Shohei Ohtani continued to impress early in his first full season as a Dodger, collecting another home run and a sharp base hit off one of the best pitchers in the league.
“Skoo’s as tough as they get,” Roberts said of Skubal. “You could argue he’s the top pitcher in baseball. And Sho—sharp base hit and hit a homer the other way, which not many guys in the big leagues can do.”
Roberts sees a more settled version of Ohtani this year. “Last year… coming out of Seoul, I think he felt a little bit more pressure. Right now, he’s just kind of in a good place mentally. It’s just really good to see him comfortable.”
Resilience Through Adversity
Despite Kiké Hernández being a late scratch due to illness and the bullpen struggling to hold a late lead, the Dodgers stayed composed and finished the job.
“You never know how the outcomes are going to be until you play,” Roberts said. “But the thing I’m certain about is we’re going to prepare.”
He praised the team’s ability to handle adversity: “Things that are out of our control like a trip to Tokyo or people getting sick—it just doesn’t affect our focus on winning a baseball game.”
Veteran infielder Miguel Rojas filled in admirably for Hernández, while Mookie Betts made his return to the lineup after missing time with a nagging injury.
“I thought he was moving well,” Roberts said of Betts. “After the game he looked like he wasn’t fatigued, which is a good thing… It’s always good to have Mookie back in there.”
As for Kiké, his status for the weekend remains uncertain. “He didn’t make it to the ballpark today,” Roberts confirmed. “The thing from the doctors was just get some rest, rehydrate, and kind of see where we’re at tomorrow. My hope is that he’ll be here ready to come off the bench.”
Looking Ahead
With the pomp and pressure of Opening Day behind them, the Dodgers now turn their attention to building momentum. Starting the season 3-0, including two wins in Japan, the club has shown early signs of depth, grit, and timely execution.
“We still found a way to win a ballgame—and that’s a good thing,” Roberts said.
And with Shohei Ohtani already doing Shohei things, Blake Snell battling through his debut, and Teoscar Hernández showing power in the middle of the lineup, the Dodgers look locked in for another exciting season in L.A.
Have you subscribed to the Bleed Los Podcast YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows & promotions, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
