Dodgers Seoul Series updates: Starters announced, surprise roster additions, injuries

The Dodgers officially open their season against the Padres in Seoul, South Korea, less than 10 days from now. Sure, they'll have to play three more spring training games before going back to Dodger Stadium, but we'll overlook that weird scheduling hiccup because real, meaningful baseball is almost here.

Despite the couple of unpleasant switcheroos and shakeups over the weekend (Mookie Betts to shortstop, first of all), a lot is coming together as the Dodgers get closer and closer to putting their shiny new team on the field.

Tyler Glasnow named Dodgers' Seoul Series Game 1 starter over Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Most Dodgers fans assumed that Yoshinobu Yamamoto would be getting his MLB regular season debut nod on March 20, during the first game of the Seoul Series. It would only make sense, given all of the hype and the money, and Yamamoto as the Game 1 starter would've put him up against Samurai Japan teammate Yu Darvish, confirmed to be starting for the Padres.

However, Yamamoto's second outing in spring training might've worried the Dodgers more than they'll publicly let on, because Tyler Glasnow will be starting Game 1 and Yamamoto's debut was pushed to Game 2.

Yamamoto's spring ERA stands at 9.00 at the moment, thanks to a six-hit, five-run outing on March 6. We've already expounded on why Yamamoto doesn't deserve the blame for how those three innings went, but maybe the Dodgers want to give him even more time, even if it's just a day, to prepare both physically and mentally for the big stage. He'll pitch on March 21 against Joe Musgrove.

A few surprise Dodgers going to Korea, more staying home

The Dodgers' pitching staff suffered a few blows this weekend. Emmet Sheehan is having shoulder issues and will start the season on the IL; Blake Treinen took a line drive to the ribs and has a lung contusion; Brusdar Graterol's hip is acting up, so he won't be heading to Korea with the rest of the team.

That leaves a few spaces for fringe roster candidates to shoot for, and Dave Roberts is already tapping a few of them. Gavin Stone, who's been having a nice time during spring, will be heading to Seoul along with Michael Grove, who hasn't looked as good but remains a righty who the Dodgers clearly still have high hopes for.

Another player not taking the long trip over the Pacific is James Paxton, who will stay stateside because scheduling and timing exclude him for starting in either of the games against the Padres or the exhibition games against the Kiwoom Heroes or Team Korea.

Certainly, there will be more updates to follow as the games draw even closer.