Welcome to The Opener, where every weekday morning you’ll get a fresh, topical column to start your day from one of SI.com’s MLB writers.
Albert Pujols couldn’t have asked for a better pitcher to square off against if he wanted to endear himself to the Dodger faithful right off the bat.
Hitting cleanup in his first day in Dodger blue and wearing Orel Hershiser's No. 55 (Corey Seager has claim to Pujols's familiar No. 5), the 41-year-old took advantage of the perfect opportunity to start strong as he plays out the twilight of his career on his terms.