Dodgers set safety protocols, add Dunkin’ Donuts to Dodger Stadium

If you go to Dodger Stadium this year, you’ll see several Dunkin’ Donuts signs throughout the park. They are now the “official coffee and official donut” of the Dodgers, thanks to a multi-year deal.

Once the stadium is open for full capacity, Dunkin’ Donuts hot coffee, iced coffee, espresso, and hot chocolate will be available at 13 sites around the park. Beginning with the home opener on April 9, there will be a Dodgers signature latte, which is described as “a blueberry crisp latte made with Dunkin’s smooth espresso and topped with whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and cinnamon sugar.”

As for getting to the games, single-game tickets for Dodger Stadium will be available beginning next week. The Dodgers on Wednesday announced their stadium policies for 2021. Among the highlights:

• Fans will be seated in pods of 2-6 people
• All purchases in the stadium will be cashless
• Only clear bags the size of a gallon freezer bag will be permitted to bring into the stadium
• Face coverings will be required for all fans ages two and above, unless eating or drinking in their ticketed seats

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Jorge Castillo at the Los Angeles Times offered some thoughts from being at Camelback Ranch in person, including Clayton Kershaw’s struggles in his last two starts and David Price in the bullpen.

Positional player rankings are out this week at FanGraphs. The Dodgers are rated No. 2 (behind San Diego) at shortstop thanks to Corey Seager, and are ranked third at catcher thanks to the respected duo of Will Smith and Austin Barnes.

Speaking of rankings, the writers at ESPN banded together to select the top players in MLB for 2021. The Dodgers have five players in the top 25 in the sport — Mookie Betts No. 2 (behind only Mike Trout), Cody Bellinger 12th, Trevor Bauer 16th, Walker Buehler 18th, and Corey Seager 22nd.

Michael Baumann at The Ranger ranked the Dodgers and Padres most likely to start a benches-clearing brawl.

The Rangers exercised the 2022 option on manager Chris Woodward on Wednesday. The former Dodgers coach is 100-122 (.450) in two seasons at the helm in Texas. Woodward has the most wins at Globe Life Field, with 16, narrowly leading his former boss, Dave Roberts, with 13.

Data privacy issues surrounding player injuries could be a key aspect of the upcoming MLB collective bargaining agreement, writes J.P. Hoornstra at the Orange County Register.

FanGraphs incorporated a number of stats into the site, outlined by David Appleman, including some from Statcast and plate discipline stats for pitchers.