It’s Jackie Robinson week at MLB Network

There’s quite a bit of Dodgers programming on MLB Network this weekend and into next week, and it’s all related to Jackie Robinson.

On the original MLB schedule, the Dodgers were slated to host the Cardinals on April 15, the anniversary of Robinson’s 1947 major league debut. This is the second year since 1956 that no MLB games will be played on April 15, joining the strike-shortened 1995 season.

Beginning Saturday through Wednesday, three Dodgers games from Jackie Robinson Day will be shown on MLB Network:

1997, Dodgers at Mets (Saturday, 10 a.m. PT, and 8 p.m.): On the 50th anniversary of Robinson’s debut, number 42 was retired throughout Major League Baseball. New York won this game 5-0, and Toby Borland had the only four-inning save against the Dodgers in the last 30 years.

2009, Giants at Dodgers (Sunday, 1 p.m.): Clayton Kershaw struck out 13 in seven innings, allowing only one hit, but his 2-1 lead was blown by the bullpen. The Dodgers rallied to tie in the eighth inning, then beat the Giants in the ninth on a walk-off walk by James Loney.

2012, Padres at Dodgers (Wednesday, noon): Dee Gordon won the game with a walk-off single, and Matt Kemp was red-hot to start the season, with two singles and a home run. From my recap: “Kemp is now hitting a sublime .487/.523/1.026 with six home runs and 16 RBI through 10 games.”

There’s more Jackie Robinson-related programming on MLB Network this weekend, including Ken Griffey Jr. talking about wearing number 42 to honor Robinson on Play Ball (Saturday, 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.):

You can find the full MLB Network schedule here.