Cody Snavely
The Los Angeles Dodgers continue their six-game homestand, hosting another team from Pennsylvania in the Pittsburgh Pirates for a three-game weekend series.
The Dodgers, who dropped a massive three-game series to the National League-leading Philadelphia Phillies, losing two of three games at home while also continuing to lose their grip on the National League West, look to right the ship before they head out to a seven-game road trip visiting two National League postseason contenders in the National League Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers for four games and the St. Louis Cardinals for three.
The Pirates took two of three games earlier in the season and the combination of right-handed pitchers Paul Skenes and Jared Jones.
Regarding the National League Wild Card race, the Pirates, despite losing six of their last ten games, are only four games out of the final seed and are clumped with many fringe postseason teams such as the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, and San Francisco Giants.
It has not been the best start to the homestand for the Dodgers, who, entering Tuesday, were only a half-game back of the Phillies for the best record in the National League. They would lose the next two in an embarrassing fashion. With the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks continuing to win, their National League West division lead fell to three games with under two months to go.
Pitching match-ups
Game One: Jack Flaherty (8-5, 2.80 ERA) vs Mitch Keller (10-5, 3.20 ERA)
Game Two: River Ryan (1-0, 1.72 ERA) vs Paul Skenes (6-1, 1.99 ERA)
Game Three: Tyler Glasnow (9-6, 3.54 ERA) vs Bailey Falter (LHP) (5-7, 3.87 ERA)
Game Times
Game One: 7:10 PM PT, SNLA, SportsNet-PIT, MLBN (out-of-market only)
Game Two: 6:10 PM PT, SNLA, SportsNet-PIT,
Game Three: 1:10 PM PT, SNLA, SportsNet-PIT,
Who’s in & who’s out?
The injury bug that has plagued the Los Angeles Dodgers most of Summer is finally ending as multiple players are set to return from the injured list in the coming days.
All-star shortstop Mookie Betts is expected to rejoin the team on the upcoming road trip and will not need a rehab assignment after taking live at-bats and hitting off a high-velocity pitching machine.
When Betts returns, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that he will move down to the two-hole in the Dodgers lineup and will continue to play shortstop despite Miguel Rojas being healthy and Tommy Edman on the horizon.
Speaking of Tommy Edman, he and Max Muncy will begin a rehab assignment in Triple-A OKC over the weekend and could rejoin the Dodgers on their road trip or next homestand.
Shortstop Miguel Rojas, who was placed on the 10-day injured list, was activated during the series finale against the Philadelphia Phillies and will remain the everyday shortstop until Betts is activated on August 12th or 13th.
With Rojas’s activation, the Dodgers optioned center fielder James Outman, who has made little impact on offense in numerous opportunities with the team this season. Barring any injury, this could be the last we see of Outman this season.
Right-handed pitcher Michael Grove, who has been on the 15-day injured list since mid-June, was activated in the series finale, pitched two innings, and hit Nick Castellanos in the 8th inning, which caused some drama later in the game.
Grove’s corresponding move was placing right-handed pitcher Brusdar Graterol on the 15-day injured list due to a hamstring injury that the big righty suffered in his first appearance of the 2024 regular season.
Dave Roberts initially indicated that the strain was a grade three (the worst one) but corrected himself the next day, saying that it was a grade one and that we could potentially see him return at some point this season.
The Dodgers will continue to be without relief pitcher Blake Treinen, who was placed on the 15-day injured list with right hip discomfort and, since the start of the second half, has been going through the worst stretch of the season, giving up multiple runs to the Houston Astros, and the San Diego Padres.
Right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler made his final rehab start at Triple-A OKC, striking out five over five and a third innings of work, topping out at 96mph.
The Pittsburgh Pirates, who are in the midst of the National League wild-card chase, are also reeling from injuries throughout their roster.
They will be without rookie starting pitcher Jared Jones after the righty suffered a grade two right lat strain that will sideline him until mid-August.
Outfielder Joshua Palacios was placed on the 15-day injured list with a left hamstring injury, and his expected return is to be determined, along with second baseman Nick Gonzales, who is out with groin discomfort.
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