Dodgers eye World Series repeat as baseball returns

LOS ANGELES: The Los Angeles Dodgers are determined to follow their long-awaited World Series victory by completing back-to-back championship wins as Major League Baseball's new season gets under way on Thursday.

A year after Covid-19 plunged the sport known as America's pastime into chaos, baseball returns for a full 162-game regular season with the Dodgers desperate to repeat their breakthrough 2020 victory.

Last season, the pandemic and a subsequent protracted row over player benefits meant that the season was slashed to just 60 games, starting in July and ending in September.

Most games took place in empty stadiums, before playoffs held at neutral locations, with the Dodgers finally ending their 32-year wait for a title in the unfamiliar surroundings of Globe Life Field at Arlington, Texas.

Although limited numbers of fans were allowed at the World Series, the Dodgers were denied the opportunity to celebrate their title in front of their home fans at Dodger Stadium.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says the National League West giants are keen to correct that anomaly this season.

"We want to do it again to ultimately enjoy all the fruits of winning a championship," Roberts said.

"Understanding the situation, what the climate was last year, we couldn't. But that's something that's a carrot out there for all of us to understand. Number one, we have a lot of work to do."

With Los Angeles being one of the worst-affected US cities in the pandemic, lockdown restrictions also meant the Dodgers were unable to celebrate the World Series title with a parade.