The Dodgers Rank Second in MLB to the Padres In One Big Category

Yeah, it's because of the Seoul Series.

When the Dodgers and San Diego Padres were chosen to play the first regular season major league games in South Korea, the honor came with an expected consequence.

The Dodgers will travel 55,142 miles during the 2024 regular season, according of Offers.bet. That's more than all but one major league team, and far more than the Seattle Mariners (47,441 miles), who rank third.

The number-1 team on the list? Naturally the Padres, at 57,835 miles.

The Mariners routinely rank first on this annual list by virtue of their location in the Pacific Northwest, which is relatively remote compared to most MLB clubs. But the two-game Seoul Series in South Korea is pushing the Dodgers and Padres to the top of the list this year.

It's not a list you want to lead. Offers.bet estimated the Dodgers will spend more than half a million dollars on air fuel costs this year, but that's not a major concern. They can afford it.

Jet lag from cross-country eastward travel can affect the performance of Major League Baseball teams, according to a long-term study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 

The Dodgers and Padres are on equal footing in Korea, having braved the 13-hour flight across the Pacific. Their receipts will come due on the other end of the schedule, when the toll of travel plus a six-month long regular season will highlight the importance of workload management for players on both teams.

How will the Dodgers attempt to mitigate the toll of travel? Consider it a storyline to watch for as the 2024 season unfolds.