Dodgers show power with Ohtani, Betts, and Freeman

Shohei Ohtani reached three times in his home debut for the Dodgers, and los Angeles beat the Cardinals, 7-1, Thursday in the Dodger Stadium opener to a season of sky-high expectations.

Mookie betts and Freddie Freeman homered in the third inning, and tyler Glasnow pitched six innings of two-hit ball for the Dodgers. One week after los Angeles began the season with two games in South Korea, the club showed off the talent throughout an expensive, star-studded roster headlined by three former MVPs at the top of the batting order.

No addition was bigger than Ohtani, who showed no signs of distraction after a tumultuous week in which he emphatically denied betting on sports after the firing of his longtime interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara.

After receiving a standing ovation from the raucous sellout crowd of 52,667, Ohtani doubled in his first official at-bat at Chavez Ravine since agreeing to his record 10-year, $700 million contract. The two-time Al MVP followed with a walk and a single as the Dodgers’ designated hitter.

Freeman had two hits and drove in three runs, and Betts, who homered, scored three runs while reaching base three times.

Soto’s throw a key to Yankees’ win

Juan soto threw out the potential tying run at the plate in the ninth inning of his Yankees debut after starting New York’s comeback from a four-run deficit in a season-opening 5-4 win over the Astros at Houston.

Oswaldo Cabrera homered and Aaron Judge doubled and scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning.

Mauricio Dubón and Yordan Alvarez singled off Clay Holmes to give the Astros two on with one out in the ninth. kyle tucker lined a single to right and Soto, an All-Star acquired from San Diego in a December trade, made a one-hop throw slightly up the third base line. Catcher Jose trevino made a sweep tag and caught Dubón’s left arm just before the runner’s finger touched the plate. Umpire James Hoye’s call was upheld in a video review.

Burnes sparkles in debut for orioles

Corbin burnes’s debut in Baltimore was everything his new team could have wanted.

The orioles’ new ace was excellent — and their offense showed why they're the reigning Al East champions.

“One bad pitch through six innings. Just awesome, awesome performance,” manager brandon Hyde said.

Burnes allowed one baserunner in a dominant six innings, and Anthony santander and Cedric Mullins both homered as the orioles began their division defense with an 11-3 rout of the Angels at Baltimore.

Mike trout hit a first-inning home run off Burnes, but the Angels managed nary a peep against the new Baltimore ace after that. Burnes (1-0) struck out 11 in his first start after the orioles acquired him from milwaukee.

Burnes joined bob Gibson in 1967 as the only pitchers with at least 11 strikeouts, no walks, and one or fewer runs allowed on opening Day.

Rays’ Franco on administrative leave

Tampa Bay All-Star shortstop Wander Franco was placed on administrative leave through June 1 under an agreement between major league Baseball and the players’ association while the investigation continues into an alleged relationship with a minor.

Administrative leave is not disciplinary under the sport’s joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy, and a player continues to be paid. franco, who has a $2 million salary this year, has remained in his native Dominican Republic while authorities there investigate, and he did not report to spring training.

The Rays opened the season Thursday against Toronto, forcing MLB and the union to make a decision on franco’s roster status.

franco has not played since Aug. 12. He was placed on the restricted list for a week on Aug. 14 while MLB launched an investigation following social media posts suggesting franco was in a relationship with a minor.

Yankees ace Cole on 60-day IL

Yankees ace Gerrit Cole was placed on the 60-day injured list with right elbow inflammation.

The earliest the reigning Al Cy Young Award winner can pitch in the major leagues is may 27. The team announced march 16 that the righthander won’t throw for 3-4 weeks because of nerve irritation and edema in his throwing elbow.

Paxton gets $2 million bonus

James Paxton is getting a $2 million bonus for being on the Dodgers’ active roster for their home opener Thursday, raising his guaranteed pay to $9 million with the chance to earn another $4 million based on starts.

The 35-year-old Paxton, who played for the Red Sox last season, signed with los Angeles in late January for a guaranteed $11 million with $2 million in bonus opportunities, but the pitcher and the team reworked his contract shortly afterward.

Giants release sandoval

The giants released infielder Pablo sandoval from his minor league contract. That ended Sandoval’s attempt at a third stint with the club. He batted .250 in 28 spring at-bats with two RBIs.

The 37-year-old Sandoval — a fan favorite nicknamed Kung fu Panda who was the 2012 World Series MVP — was trying to get back to the big leagues for the first time since 2021, when he batted .178 in 69 games with the Braves.

Sandoval played for the giants from 2008-14 before signing a $95 million, five-year contract with the Red Sox, who released him in the summer of 2017.