Dodgers, Padres open 2016 season with national ESPN telecast

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers' 2016 season opener in San Diego now has a time, and a national audience, with the Monday, April 4 game against the Padres now part of expanded two-day ESPN coverage of the start of next season, MLB announced on Thursday at the quarterly owners meetings.

The first game of the season, part of an opening three-game series for the Dodgers at Petco Park, starts at 4:05 p.m. PT and will be televised nationally by ESPN, which means no local blackouts. The game will also be televised by SportsNet LA.

ESPN will have seven nationally televised games on Sunday and Monday to open the 2016 season, including three games on Sunday instead of just the usual Sunday Night Baseball season opener. Here is the ESPN schedule for the first two days of the 2016 regular season, which will feature all 10 playoff teams from 2015:

Sunday, April 3

10:05 a.m. PT: Cardinals at Pirates (ESPN)

1:05 p.m.: Blue Jays at Rays (ESPN2)

5:35 p.m.: Mets at Royals (ESPN)

Monday, April 4

10:05 a.m.: Astros at Yankees (ESPN)

1:05 p.m.: Mariners at Rangers (ESPN)

4:05 p.m. Dodgers at Padres (ESPN)

7:05 p.m.: Cubs at Angels (ESPN2)

MLB also announced on Thursday that on the final day of the regular season, on Sunday, Oct. 2, every major league game will start at the same time, at noon PT. The Dodgers end their 2016 regular season in San Francisco against the Giants.