It’s the debut for both Freeman and Bryant with their new teams after Freeman joined Los Angeles and Bryant went to Colorado this offseason.
First pitch for the season opener at Coors Field is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET.
Both players are coming off All-Star seasons in 2021. Freeman hit .300 with 31 home runs and 83 RBIs and led the Braves to a World Series championship. Bryant finished the season with 25 homers, 10 stolen bases and 73 RBIs for the Cubs and Giants, helping San Francisco to an MLB-best 107 wins after he was traded to the Giants at the Deadline.
Freeman and Bryant are also both former National League MVP Award winners. Freeman won the 2020 NL MVP Award with Atlanta, and Bryant was the 2016 NL MVP with Chicago.
Friday’s game is Freeman’s first in a star-studded Dodgers lineup alongside Mookie Betts, Trea Turner, Cody Bellinger and more, with Los Angeles coming off a 106-win season. Bryant, meanwhile, will be expected to anchor the Rockies’ lineup with Charlie Blackmon.