The Pittsburgh Pirates take their below-.500 record to Dodger Stadium to face the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers, who just completed a sweep in Colorado.
The Pittsburgh Pirates (63-66) open a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers (77-51) on Saturday, August 22 at Dodger Stadium, with first pitch at 7:10 PM PT. The Dodgers enter as the clear favorite, riding a three-game sweep of the Rockies and holding the best record in the NL West, while the Pirates are fighting to stay relevant in the NL Central after a dramatic walk-off win over Detroit. With LA’s pitching staff banged up and Pittsburgh showing late-inning resilience, this series opener carries more intrigue than the standings suggest.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Late-Inning Heroics and a Banged-Up Roster
The Pirates (63-66, fourth in NL Central) arrive in Los Angeles on the heels of a 4-3 comeback victory over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday, August 19. Brandon Lowe homered off Tigers closer Kenley Jansen with two outs in the ninth inning to complete the rally, and Wilmer Flores also went deep in the same frame. That kind of late-game pop has been a bright spot for a club that has otherwise struggled to string together consistent wins.
Pittsburgh’s rotation has been a concern, with ace Paul Skenes acknowledging “room to grow” after a rocky outing that pushed his ERA to 3.95 — more than double his career mark of 1.96 entering the season. The injury report is extensive: Endy Rodriguez, Ryan O’Hearn, Matt Vierling, and Riley Greene are on the 10-day IL, while Konnor Griffin, Mitch Keller, Brant Hurter, Parker Meadows, and James Outman are on longer stints. To address catching depth, the Pirates acquired veteran Christian Bethancourt from the Yankees for cash considerations, and he could see action soon.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Momentum and Mookie’s Hot Bat
The Dodgers (77-51, first in NL West) completed a three-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies with a 6-4 win in 10 innings on Wednesday night in Denver. Mookie Betts was the star, homering, collecting three hits, and delivering the go-ahead RBI single in the 10th. That performance has Betts heating up at the right time, and with the NL MVP race tightening — one headline asks whether Pete Crow-Armstrong or Shohei Ohtani has the edge — the Dodgers boast multiple MVP-caliber bats.
LA’s pitching staff, however, is dealing with significant injuries: Tyler Glasnow, Bobby Miller, Blake Treinen, and Ben Casparius are all on the 60-day IL, with Kyle Freeland and Hunter Feduccia listed as day-to-day. Despite those losses, the Dodgers just swept a division rival on the road and own the NL’s best record, giving them a clear edge in this matchup.
Head-to-Head: What to Watch
The Dodgers’ offense, led by Betts and Ohtani, should test a Pirates pitching staff that has been inconsistent beyond Skenes. Pittsburgh’s bullpen showed resilience in the ninth against Detroit, but the Dodgers’ ability to score in extras — as they did in Colorado — makes them dangerous in close games. For the Pirates, the key will be getting to LA’s depleted rotation early and avoiding the big inning, while the Dodgers will look to ride their home crowd and momentum to a series-opening win.
- Dodgers’ home record and recent sweep momentum give them a clear edge.
- Pirates’ late-inning power (Lowe, Flores) could make this closer than expected.
- Skenes’ form is a wild card; if he rebounds, Pittsburgh has a chance.
- LA’s pitching injuries open the door for the Pirates’ lineup.
- Both teams have key hitters in good form (Betts for LA, Lowe for Pittsburgh).
Prediction
Expect a competitive opener, but the Dodgers’ depth and home-field advantage should prevail. Even with a patchwork rotation, LA’s offense is too potent for a Pirates team that has struggled to string together wins. Look for the Dodgers to take the first game of the series, 5-3, behind another strong night from Mookie Betts.
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