The Dodgers are heading into their final series in the first half of the 2026 season as the only team with 60 or more wins to date and a 14.5-game lead over their rivals, the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Shohei Ohtani will make his final start before the All-Star break and will therefore not compete in the Mid-Summer Classic. His start was postponed from Wednesday as he is still battling some health issues.
Eduardo Rodriguez starts for the D-Backs. He has faced the Dodgers lineup twice already this season and has allowed just one run in 11 innings pitched. He has an overall ERA of 2.25, but over his last three games he has posted a 1.37 ERA and issued only three walks. He has allowed two or fewer runs in 14 of 18 starts this season.
Ohtani, for his part, hasn’t pitched so well his last three games, allowing three, two and four runs. Two of the three started well, but much worse than how he started the season. He faced the D-Backs in June, allowing only two hits in six shutout innings.
The D-Bucs are 46-47 and tied for second in the Western League with the San Diego Padres, with whom they just split a four-game set in San Diego.
As usual, Ketel Marte and Corbin Carroll lead the Diamondbacks’ offense.
The Dodgers’ offense has been a little sluggish as of late, and if Rodriguez keeps pitching like this, he’ll keep this offense in check a little longer.
It’s also the last series the Dodgers will play at home until July 28, as they face a 10-game road trip up the East Coast after the All-Star break.