The Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Dodgers meet again at Dodger Stadium after Tommy Edman’s walk-off single gave LA a 5-4 win in the opener. Both teams are banged up, but the Dodgers hold the edge.
The Pittsburgh Pirates (63-67) and Los Angeles Dodgers (78-51) resume their three-game series on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium, with the Dodgers holding a 1-0 lead after Tommy Edman’s two-strike, walk-off single in the 10th inning of a 5-4 thriller. The Dodgers, first in the NL West, have the best record in the division and are aiming to take a commanding 2-0 series lead, while the fourth-place Pirates are fighting to stay relevant in the NL Central. With both rosters hit hard by injuries, depth will be tested, but Los Angeles’s superior record and home-field advantage give them the edge in this matchup.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Injuries Pile Up, Skenes Struggles
The Pirates come into Saturday’s game below .500 and dealing with a heavy injury list. Mitch Keller, Konnor Griffin, and Ryan O’Hearn are all on the IL, along with Endy Rodriguez, leaving Pittsburgh without key rotation and lineup pieces. The club’s offense managed four runs against the Dodgers in the opener, but the bullpen couldn’t hold in extras. Ace Paul Skenes has been a major storyline, as he recently acknowledged “room to grow” after a rough outing that pushed his ERA to 3.95 — more than double his career mark of 1.96 entering the season. Pittsburgh will need a strong start from whoever takes the mound to keep the Dodgers’ lineup in check and avoid dropping the series before Sunday’s finale.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Edman Delivers, But Pages Injured
The Dodgers’ offense got a clutch hit from Tommy Edman, but they also suffered a blow when center fielder Andy Pages fractured his left hand after being hit by a pitch. Manager Dave Roberts said the injury is “not season-ending,” but Pages’ absence creates an immediate hole in the outfield. Kyle Tucker, meanwhile, is reportedly “grinding” to escape a brutal slump, and the pitching staff is banged up with Tyler Glasnow, Bobby Miller, Blake Treinen, and Ben Casparius all on the 60-day IL, plus Will Klein on the 15-day IL. Despite the injuries, Los Angeles has the best record in the NL West and showed resilience in the opener, rallying from a 4-3 deficit in the 10th.
Head-to-Head: Key Matchups to Watch
The Pirates’ bullpen faltered in extra innings Friday, and they’ll need a cleaner performance to beat a Dodgers team that thrives on late-game drama. The Dodgers’ lineup is deep, but without Pages, they’ll rely on Edman and others to step up. Pittsburgh’s offense must find ways to score against a Dodgers pitching staff that, while depleted, still has quality arms. Watch for how the Pirates handle the Dodgers’ left-handed bats and whether Tucker can break out of his slump. The Pirates’ ability to get production from their bench will be crucial, given their injury absences.
- Dodgers’ Tommy Edman: 2-strike walk-off single in Game 1
- Pirates’ Paul Skenes: ERA at 3.95, seeking to regain form
- Dodgers’ Andy Pages: Fractured hand, out but not season-ending
- Pirates’ injuries: Keller, Griffin, O’Hearn, Rodriguez on IL
- Dodgers’ pitching injuries: Glasnow, Miller, Treinen, Casparius on 60-day IL
Prediction
Expect a tight game, but the Dodgers’ momentum and home-field advantage should carry them to a 6-4 win, taking a 2-0 series lead.
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