Game 118 Thread: Aug 9 @ Diamondbacks, 1p

Justin Wrobleski vs Eduardo Rodriguez.

The long national nightmare might be over (the Dodgers finally won a game), but the offensive malaise continues, not to mention Edwin Diaz's incredible suckage.

Hoping for a series victory.

Game 117 Thread: Aug 8 @ Diamondbacks, 5p

Seven-game losing streak. I can't even post at this stage.

Game 116 Thread: Aug 7 @ Diamondbacks, 6.40p

Roki Sasaki vs. Merrill Kelly.

The Dodgers have lost six games in a row and, really, there is no hope left once the baseball gods are against you.

Game 115 Thread: Aug 5 @ Cubs, 11.20a

Eric Lauer (6-5, 4.50) vs. Shota Imanaga (7-9. 3.67).

The Dodgers are looking up at the Brewers now for the best record in baseball, thanks to a five-game losing streak that seems to have no sign of arresting, certainly not when new savior Tarik Skubal can't even stem the tide of negative momentum.

Tonight we are starting a guy that was highly-rumored to be departing the Dodgers at the trade deadline, in part because of his penchant for serving up meatballs that become opposing home runs. Yet here he is, still with a spot in the starting rotation.

Sigh.

Game 114 Thread: August 4 @ Cubs, 5p

Tarik Skubal (7-5, 2.79) vs. Javier Assad (6-1, 3.75).

The Tarik Skubal rental season opens up today for the Dodgers, who have been winless since they announced the blockbuster trade.

With this start, Skubal moves into a tie with Blake Snell for Dodger games started in 2026.

Just saying.

Game 113 Thread: August 3 @ Cubs, 5p

TBD vs. Matthew Boyd (6-1, 3.41).

With all the talk about Tarik Skubal's joining the Dodgers this past weekend, the facts are that the Dodgers have not won a single game since the news. So ease up, all you Dodger haters. There's still a lot of baseball to be played.

Game 112 Thread: Aug 2 vs. Red Sox, 4.20p

Sheehan vs. Bennett.

Sorry I'm late with this post. I've been in the wilderness.

Game 111 Thread: Aug 1 vs. Red Sox, 6p

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (11-6, 2.72) vs. Payton Tolle (6-6, 3.32).

Well, after last night's debacle, caused in part by Blake Snell's laziness, tonight we have a starting pitcher who actually pitches a full season as well as extra time during the postseason: Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Blake Snell should take notes.

The Red Sox go with their own starter, so we'll see For Whom the Bell Toll(e)s.

Game 110 Thread: July 31 vs. Red Sox, 7p

Blake Snell, still not pitching.

Edgardo Henriquez (4-1, 2.79) vs. Ranger Suarez (4-3, 3.02).

Not sure which Red Sox team we're going to see this series--the one that fumbled around the start of this year and got Alex Cora fired, or the one that has won an amazing 20 of their 24 games this month.

But starting Edgardo Henriquez tonight only underlines how badly Blake Snell has slow-walked his return to the Dodgers' rotation. Tarik Skubal had the same surgical procedure and returned in 38 days. 38 days from Blake Snell's surgery would have been June 26--so over a month later, Snell is just lounging around.

Hence, Henriquez.

Thanks a lot, Blake!

Game 109 Thread: July 30 vs. Mariners, 7p

Roki Sasaki (4-5, 4.71) vs. Bryan Woo (7-7, 4.37).

Rubber match of the series on the line, and we have to guess which Roki Sasaki shows up to pitch tonight.

Gulp.

Game 108 Thread: July 29 vs. Mariners, 7p

Eric Lauer (5-5, 4.83) vs. Emerson Hancock (6-4, 3.16).

I think I've may have referenced the Will Smith movie before in referencing this opposing starting pitcher, so I'm trying something else. I don't want you to get tired of this.

Game 107 Thread: July 28 vs. Mariners, 7p

TBD vs. Luis Castillo (3-9, 4.85).

The Mariners were picked by some to win the 2026 World Series, but as of game time they are 2.5 games out of first place in the AL West (and two games out of the Wild Card). Not that I'm trying to Curry favor with them, but the Trident celebration is pretty cool. Game 1 tonight, as they swim into Chavez Ravine.

Game 106 Thread: July 26 @ Mets, 10.40a

Emmet Sheehan (4-7, 5.13) vs. Freddy Peralta (5-9, 5.01).

Peralta has been a lot worse his last three starts, with an ERA of 6.28. But Emmet Sheehan hasn't been reliable this year, either.

At least I can watch this one.

Game 105 Thread: July 25 @ Mets, 4.15p

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (10-6. 2.78) vs. Nolan McLean (7-6, 3.34).

Nolan McLean has a 0.75 ERA over his last four starts, with an active streak of 17 consecutive innings without an earned run. But he's going up against our 2025 World Series ace, Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Should be a good one.

Sorry, I'm at San Diego Comic-Con. That's all I got for this GT.

Game 104 Thread: July 24 @ Mets, 4p

Roki Sasaki (3-5, 4.98) vs. Sean Manaea (2-5, 4.74).

Sean Manaea signed a three-year, $75M deal with the Mets before the 2024 season. And it hasn't paid off. This year, Manaea has a 4.74 ERA, and in his 21 games this season, he's gone over 5.0 IP only four times.

Heck, even Roki Sasaki has more games this season where he went over five innings (six games out of 17 starts). So let's see how this showdown goes tonight!

Game 103 Thread: July 22 vs. Phillies, 3.40p

Eric Lauer (4-5, 4.81) vs. Aaron Nola (3-7, 5.68).

For the finale, we're starting a guy known for giving up bombs, against a team who hit five HR against us in the opening game of the series.

Yay.

Game 102 Thread: July 21 @ Phillies, 4p

Justin Wrobleski (10-2, 2.69) vs. Zac Wheeler (10-1, 2.13).

The Dodgers raised the white flag early yesterday, as Emmet Sheehan was ineffective and the Dodgers subbed out a ton of starters early--not Kyle Tucker, who sat out the whole game--in a 10-7 loss.

Tonight's starting matchup doesn't make me feel any better.

Game 101 Thread: July 20 @ Phillies, 4p

Emmet Sheehan (4-6, 4.81) vs. Cristopher Sanchez (11-4, 2.62).

Here's another series against a 2026 World Series contender, who is throwing their best arm at us (actually, they're throwing great arms in all three games). After taking only two of three in the Bronx this weekend, I'm guessing the beleaguered Dodgers go quietly tonight.

Games 99/100 Thread: July 18 19 @ Yankees, 9.30a / 4p

An off-center shot. But still satisfying.

Yoshinobu vs. Ryan Weathers / Emmet Sheehan vs. Cam Schlittler

Friday night's massive Max Muncy home run (in a pretty great at bat, by the way, working a 0-2 count back to square and then just mashing) put the Dodgers up 2-1, which was all they needed for the victory in the opener of this series. Friday night was the Dodgers' first visit back to Dodger Stadium since the 2024 World Series Game 5, where Gerrit Cole also performed valiantly...until he didn't.

Kinda rings a bell, right?

Round two is now a doubleheader on Sunday, thanks to rain on Saturday postponing the second game.

Game 98 Thread: July 17 @ Yankees, 4p

via GIPHY

Nestor is gone, but this memory lives on.

Roki Sasaki (3-5, 5.33) vs. Gerrit Cole (3-4, 4.04).

Well, at least we have 2024. I mean, sending the unreliable Roki Sasaki out there, just off the All-Star break, and into the den of wolves at Yankee Stadium?

This won't end well. But we'll always have 2024. I reckon that Gerrit Cole remembers.

At The All-Star Break, The Dodgers Are Suboptimal...And Still The Best

After getting swept by the Diamondbacks to end the first half of the season, the Dodgers certainly seemed a little lackluster and had cause to be alarmed: their offense was sleepy; Max Muncy, who has become sure-handed at third base, made 73 errors in the series; and many of our pitchers (starters and bullpen) just got beat.

But then, we still have an 11.5-game lead in the division. So there's that.

As Jared Diamond wrote in the WSJ's "A Lot Has Gone Wrong for the Dodgers. They’re Still the Best Team in Baseball Anyway.", it's not just our profligate spending which has allowed the Dodgers to thrive even with Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Edwin Diaz, and Will Smith injured. And it's not just because we have deep pockets--it's because we have unsung players, polished in our development pipeline, who have filled in the gaps:

But the Dodgers’ astronomical budget doesn’t tell the whole story. Just ask the woeful New York Mets, MLB’s second-biggest spenders.

The truth about the Dodgers isn’t just that they’re the wealthiest team in baseball. They’re also quite possibly the smartest.

Under president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, a former executive with the small-market Tampa Bay Rays, the Dodgers have built a player-development apparatus that is the envy of the entire industry. MLB.com ranks the Dodgers’ farm system as second-best in baseball behind the Milwaukee Brewers, even though they haven’t had a top-10 draft pick in 20 years.

In other words, the Dodgers seemingly have a limitless supply of MLB-ready replacements at every position. Coupled with their vast resources, it’s a lethal combination that has transformed them into an unstoppable juggernaut.

Take All-Star pitcher Justin Wrobleski. The Dodgers selected him in the 11th round in 2021, and he initially looked like little more than a mid-level prospect. He has turned into a savior in Snell’s absence, going 10-2 with a 2.69 ERA in 2026.

When All-Star catcher Will Smith went down with a neck injury, they turned to homegrown Dodger Dalton Rushing. He has an .812 OPS. Cuban outfielder Andy Pages signed with the Dodgers as a 17-year-old in 2018 and is now an All-Star for the first time this season.

Wrobleski, Rushing and Pages are all making around $800,000. Without them and others, the Dodgers would be more like the Mets.

“Guys have stepped up,” Roberts said. “We just find ways to win.”

So relax, Dodgers! You've earned a break this week.

That is, except Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Andy Pages, and Justin Wrobleski. All six of you have to go to Philadelphia, if only to participate in off-field festivities!

Game 97 Thread: July 12 vs. Diamondbacks, 1p

Emmet Sheehan (4-6, 4.91) vs. Mitch Bratt (0-0, 3.00).

Just get us to the All-Star Break for Pete's sake. This series is rubbish.

NL West lead now whittled down to 12.5 games.

Game 96 Thread: July 11 vs. Diamondbacks, 6p

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (9-5, 2.49) vs. Brandon Pfaadt (2-1, 4.84).

The Dodgers got snakebit last night, but tonight we go with a real starter. Let's hope for better results.

Game 95 Thread: July 10 vs. Diamondbacks, 7p

Well, shoot. This image doesn't work as well now.

Shohei Ohtani (8-2, 1.79) Kyle Hurt (3-1. 4.55) vs. Eduardo Rodriguez (7-3, 2.25).

The Diamondbacks are in second place in the NL West, buuuuuuuuuut...are also 14.5 games back of the Dodgers (and tied with the Padres). They're also 5.5 games back (and four spots) behind the third Wild Card spot.

But there's a lot of baseball still to be played, including from tonight's starter, Shohei Ohtani, in his last starting appearance before the All-Star Break. Ohtani's ERA has slowly but noticable risen since Dalton Rushing assumed catching duties (with the still-injured Will Smith on the mend), but would still rank pretty high on the ERA list if Ohtani had met the qualifying threshold.

Let's hope for a long, clean start from Ohtani tonight! At least Kyle Hurt has that cool walk-up song!

Game 94 Thread: July 8 vs. Rockies, 7p

Roki Sasaki (3-5, 5.40) vs. Gabriel Hughes (0-0, 0.00).

After defensive gaffes caused a dispiriting loss in last night's game, things seemed pretty bad in black and white. Maybe off of tonight's Rockies' starter, "Hues", we can take a more colorful approach.

Oh wait, Roki's pitching.

Fade to black.

Game 93 Thread: July 7 vs. Rockies, 7p

Justin Wrobleski (10-2, 2.80) vs. Michael Lorenzen (3-9, 6.91).

While some Dodgers starters have been incredibly inconsistent (Roki Sasaki), or even completely absent (Blake Snell)--Justin Wrobleski has quietly gone out there and delivered. He leads the team in wins (one more than Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and two more than Shohei Ohtani). And though he won't be an 2026 All-Star, he clearly has contributed to the Dodgers' first-half success.

Let's give a toast to Justin as we near the break!

Game 92 Thread: July 6 vs. Rockies, 7p

Eric Lauer (4-5, 4.84) vs. Kyle Freeland (2-7, 7.25).

This Dodgers-Rockies matchup isn't the most important sports event of the day, for sure. But after dropping the last game of the series with the Padres with a dud on national television, it's understandable if one feels the need for distraction.

Game 91 Thread: June 5 vs. Padres, 4p

Emmet Sheehan (4-5, 5.08) vs. JP Sears (1-1, 6.97).

Last night's victory put the Padres 15 games behind the Dodgers, in third place in the NL West (behind the Diamondbacks, who are 14 back). The Padres have lost eight in a row. And now they turn to a failed US retailer to save them.

Game 90 Thread: July 4 vs. Padres, 7p

Canned Gryphon.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (8-5, 2.67) vs. Griffin Canning (1-5, 7.09).

The Dodgers once again turned the tables on the Padres, seemingly cruising to victory only to see those ideas get vaporized in a flash. Friday, it was at the hand of Teoscar Hernandez, whose light-hitting exploits of late became moot when he hit the game-winning, back-breaking grand slam to turn the Padres 3-0 lead into a 4-3 deficit.. That score held up, and the Dodgers won again over San Diego.

The numbers seem to favor the Dodgers based on the starting pitcher matchup. But who the heck knows, it's baseball! All I know is, I'll be there at the Stadium (with SoSG Orel!) to watch the fireworks.

Game 89 Thread: July 3 vs. Padres, 7p

Shohei Ohtani (8-2, 1.58) vs. Michael King (5-7, 3.55)

In yesterday's game, Roki Sasaki was useless, giving up six runs in the first three innings. Fernando Tatis Jr. hit the first pitch of the game for a double, and light-hitting Manny Machado pounded a two-run home run. Then in the next inning, Jackson Merrill had a solo shot, and Jake Cronenworth had a three-run home run, to put the Dodgers down by six.

And then, the Dodgers clawed their way back into this game, tying the game and then taking the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, and scoring 12 unanswered runs before ceding a run in the ninth to end the game, a 12-7 victory.

It was quite a beatdown, and the sold-out crowd would have been more into the comeback victory had they not been so distracted by Monkey D. Luffy and his giveaway hats.

Tonight, Shohei Ohtani takes the mound, having been pushed back a couple of days in his start. He's rested. Let's go.

Game 88 Thread: July 2 vs. Padres, 7p

Roki Sasaki (3-5, 4.88) vs. Randy Vasquez (6-6, 4.44).

Less than one week ago, the Padres were eight games back of the Dodgers.. San Diego is now 12 games back of the Dodgers, starting a four-game series at the Stadium.

Not to mention, the Padres are actually in second place in the division! No other divisional lead in baseball is more than 5.5 games.

Let's make this a series to celebrate with fireworks!

Game 87 Thread: July 1 @ Athletics, 6.40p

TBD vs. J.T. Ginn (6-4, 3.15).

Ginn? Yeah, that sounds good right about now, as we hope the Dodgers sweep (to go 8-1 on this road trip).

I'd name the Dodgers starter, but I'm too hungover (and, as of writing this Game Thread, has not been named yet).

Game 86 Thread: June 30 @ Athletics, 6.40p

Wrobleski (9-2, 2.71) vs. Jeffrey Springs (3-7, 5.52).

After last night's 9-4 beatdown, can the A's starting pitcher muster any sort of opposition today?

Hope Springs eternal.

Game 85 Thread: June 29 @ Athletics, 6.40p

Eric Lauer (3-5, 4.87) vs. Gage Jump (3-1, 2.04).

The Dodgers are stuck in a minor-league ballpark for the next three days. Are they excited to face tonight's opposing pitcher?

Might as well Jump.

Game 84 Thread: June 28 @ Padres, 1p

Remember Soto in early pinstripes?

Emmet Sheehan (3-5, 5.32) vs. Michael King (5-6, 3.33).

Michael King, like Randy Vasquez last night, was one of five players that came over from the Yankees when the Padres traded Juan Soto in 2023. Vasquez got lit up for 5 ER and 7 R last night in 3.1 IP. Let's greet King with the same sort of warmth and win this series!

Game 83 Thread: June 27 @ Padres, 5.40p

Yoshinobo Yamamoto (7-5, 2.65) vs. Randy Vasquez (6-5, 4.17).

Even after winning last night's game, the Padres are eight games back of the Dodgers.

That is all.

Game 82 Thread: June 26 @ Padres, 6.45p

(not the same Bueller)

Roki Sasaki (3-4, 4.76) vs. Walker Buehler (4-3, 3.96).

Former Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler takes the mound for the rival Padres, who are nine games back of the Dodgers in the NL West. And as bad as Buehler and his ridiculous mustache have been since leaving Los Angeles, he's still sporting a better record and ERA than our starter, Roki Sasaki.

Should be an interesting matchup tonight.

Are you not entertained?

Game 81 Thread: June 24 @ Twins, 4.40p

Shohei Ohtani (7-2, 1.47) vs. Joe Ryan (5-3, 2.99).

Halfway through the season, and the Dodgers are the only team in the majors with over 50 wins (51, after last night's romp), as well as the team with the largest division lead (nine games, over San Diego). And that's even with very expensive guys still sitting out (Blake Snell and Kyle Tucker, leading the way on the bench).

Let's keep it going, Dodgers!

Game 80 Thread: June 23 @ Twins, 4.40p

Justin Wrobleski vs. Kendry Rojas.

In yesterday's game, the Dodgers eked out a victory, however Dodger $60M man Kyle Tucker had to leave early due to back spasms. So did the Twins nip Tuck? Sure seems that way.

Game 79 Thread: June 22 @ Twins

Hard to believe it's been 16 years since this ballpark was built.

Eric Lauer vs. Zebby Matthews.

I can't recall the last time the Dodgers faced a pitcher named "Zebby." But that doesn't mean we won't have a Target on our back going into this series in Minnesota, especially after another AL underachiever (the Orioles) just took us behind the woodshed to win a recent series.

It doesn't give me much confidence to start Eric Lauer, either! Hoo, boy.

Game 78 Thread: June 21 vs. Orioles

Emmet Sheehan vs. Brandon Young.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!

Game 77 Thread: June 20 vs. Orioles

Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. Trevor Rogers.

After last night's thrilling walk-off victory, perhaps the Dodgers talked about stranding runners all over the place (especially the bases loaded, no outs situation in the third which yielded zero runs). We wouldn't have to be in walk-off mode if we just take care of business along the way.

Get to work, boys!

Game 76 Thread: June 19 vs. Orioles, 7p

Roki Sasaki (3-4, 4.76) vs. Trey Gibson (1-2, 5.91).

This is the opener of a three-game set vs. the Baltimore Orioles, the beleaguered bottom of the AL East (actually, the Red Sox are 16 games behind, four worse than the O's).

Tommy Edman debuted on Wednesday and didn't have a hit (0-for-3 with a walk in the leadoff spot). Can this game mark his first hit of 2026?

I might just have sobered up from the USNMT-Australia World Cup game in time to watch this one.

Game 75 Thread: June 17 vs. Rays, 12n

Shohei Ohtani (6-2, 1.06) vs. Shane McClanahan (6-4, 3.23).

Ring the alarm bells! Shohei Ohtani has to take the mound roughly 14 hours after his last game? Luckily, last night's 1-0 victory only took 1:52, so hopefully our two-way phenom had time to sleep a bit (and can you believe Ohtani is batting .297?).

Game 74 Thread: June 16 vs. Rays, 7p

Shades of the 2025 World Series.

Justin Wrobleski (7-2, 2.95) vs. Drew Rasmussen (6-2, 2.71).

How is Miguel Rojas so dramatic and effective as a late-game pinch hitter? Last night, Rojas saved the Dodgers with a seventh-inning game winning home run, which hearkened back to the postseason exploits of last season. Sure, we shouldn't have to depend upon a three-run homerun from Kyle Tucker to even be in the game in the first place. Let's get this offense going tonight for Wrobo, okay?

Game 73 Thread: June 15 vs. Rays, 7p

Eric Lauer (2-5, 5.47) vs. Nick Martinez (6-2, 2.43).

The Rays are no (Top) Secret: quietly building a consistent contender without the huge payroll.. Tonight is Round 1 against Dodgers GM Andrew Friedman's former stomping grounds.

Game 72 Thread: June 14 @ White Sox, 11a

Emmet Sheehan (3-3, 4.70) vs. Erick Fedde (1-5, 4.69).

Coming off another heroic performance from Yoshinobu Yamamoto yesterday--almost one for the history books, twice--Emmet Sheehan takes the hill with the chance to give the Dodgers the series victory. Let's go, Emmet!

Game 71 Thread: June 13 @ White Sox, 1p

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (6-4, 2.68) vs. Sean Burke (3-3, 3.88).

This series with the White Sox is a good opportunity to remember former Dodger Miguel Vargas. A mediocre infielder with a negative WAR over parts of three seasons, Vargas was traded to the White Sox where he further cratered (-1.0 WAR in only 42 games) in the remainder of the 2024 season. Since then, however, Vargas has markedly improved and kept a starting position: 1.9 WAR in 2025, and he's off to a great start this year with a 2.6 WAR and a 143 OPS+.

I'm sure he's approaching this series with a bit more vigor. Hoping Yoshi can shut that down today and we can tie the series.

Game 70 Thread: June 12 @ White Sox, 4.40p

Roki Saaki (3-3, 4.03) vs. Anthony Kay (5-1, 4.40).

Continuing with the jewelry theme, the Dodgers face another pitcher in the same week whose name evokes gems and bling. But I've got a feeling the Ks will belong with Roki Sasaki tonight, following a couple of solid recent outings.

Game 69 Thread: June 11 @ Pirates, 3.40p

Justin Wrobleski (7-2, 2.62) vs. Mitch Keller (5-3, 4.51).

Confession: I will be at the game tonight, the first Dodgers away game that I've attended in years. I'm really hoping for a great performance from Justin Wrobleski, so that the Dodgers can win this series. Which means, given the Pirates' starter, I should not be seeing Mitch All Together.

UPDATE 12.30p PT: It's thunderstorming outside here in Pittsburgh. Yikes.

Game 68 Thread: June 10 @ Pirates, 3.40p

Shohei Ohtani (6-2, 0.74) vs. Jared Jones (1-0, 4.82).

After last night's 12-3 win, driven by a 10-run seventh inning once Pirates starter Paul Skenes left the game, the Dodgers should feel pretty shiny indeed. Now that they're going against Jared, can they put another jewel in their crown?

Game 67 Thread: June 9 @ Pirates, 3.40p

Eric Lauer (2-5, 5.74) vs. Paul Skenes (6-5, 2.83).

This Skenes guy may be on to something, what with his eight different pitches having a history of confounding hitters across his short but stratospherically successful career. I'm really glad that we get the opportunity to go against the best tonight--this will be a great test for the Dodgers.

Game 66 Thread: June 7 vs. Angels, 1p

Sheehan vs. Soriano.

Oh man, I am still giddy over last night's nine-run first inning (as well as Yoshinobu Yamamoto's excellent performance). Let's go!

Game 65 Thread: June 6 vs. Angels, 7p

Yamamoto vs. Kochamowicz

We can't expect Freddie Freeman to win every game for us with a walk-off HR, right?!

Game 64 Thread: May 5 vs. Angels, 7p

Roki Sasaki (3-3, 4.59) vs. Reid Detmers (2-5, 4.63).

Roki Sasaki has to be excited to see the Angels again, given the success of his May 17 start (7.0 IP, 4 H, and 1 ER in his best start of the year). Let's hope they've brought their B-game, as usual.

Game 63 Thread: June 4 @ Diamondbacks, 6.40p

Justin Wrobleski (7-2, 2.87) vs. Ryne Nelson (2-4, 4.82).

A win today would give us our sixth-straight series victory, so let's see if we can halve Nelson.