In an exciting turn of events, the Los Angeles Dodgers are gearing up for their home opener against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday. With the recent signing of Shohei Ohtani to a whopping $700 million deal, the team's expectations for the 2024 MLB season have skyrocketed.

Although Ohtani had already made his Dodgers debut last week in South Korea, all eyes will be on the two-way sensation as he takes the field for the home opener. The first pitch is set for 1:10 p.m., and fans are eagerly awaiting Ohtani's performance.

However, amidst the excitement, there has been some off-field drama surrounding Ohtani. His longtime interpreter and friend, Ippei Mizuhara, was recently fired during the Dodgers' trip to Seoul. Ohtani accused Mizuhara of stealing money from him to pay off gambling debts. This shocking revelation has left Ohtani trying to remain focused on the game despite the significant distraction.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts believes that Mizuhara's absence could potentially be beneficial for Ohtani. Roberts suggested that Mizuhara had acted as a "buffer" between the Japanese star and his new teammates, and Ohtani's integration into the team dynamics might improve without him.

Although Ohtani won't take on pitching duties this season due to his ongoing recovery from a second Tommy John surgery, his batting skills have already made an impact. In the recent Seoul Series, Ohtani contributed significantly with a 3-for-10 performance and two RBIs, helping the Dodgers secure a split in the series against the San Diego Padres.

As the Dodgers prepare for their highly-anticipated home opener, all eyes will be on Shohei Ohtani. With high expectations placed upon him and the team, Ohtani's performance will be closely watched as he attempts to shine on the field amidst the ongoing off-field drama.