After a 6-1 homestand, the Los Angeles Dodgers now begin an eight-game road trip that starts with a matchup against the Houston Astros.
The Dodgers are back at Minute Maid Park for the third time since the Astros’ World Series cheating scandal was unearthed. They played there without fans in 2020, and had limited crowds in attendance in 2021. The Dodgers also faced the Astros at Dodger Stadium in 2021 and 2023.
The series opener can only be watched via an exclusive Apple TV+ stream as part of their weekly “Friday Night Baseball” programming. It’s a third time this season the Dodgers are streaming on Apple TV+.
Their game against the New York Yankees was also available on SportsNet LA and the YES Network as part of MLB conducting a test with local regional sports channels, but such is not case for the matchup with the Astros.
SportsNet LA analyst Dontrelle Willis is joining play-by-play man Wayne Randazzo on the call, and Heidi Watney is the in-game reporter.
Gavin Stone takes the mound as one of three rookie starters the Dodgers are relying on this weekend. Justin Wrobleski and River Ryan are due to follow in the series.
Stone is coming off five innings of one-run ball in his first start after the All-Star break. He’s on the verge of becoming the 10th rookie in Dodgers franchise history to record at least 10 wins in a single season.
Overall this year, the right-hander is 9-3 with a 3.19 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 18 starts.
The Astros counter with Framber Valdez, who is 8-5 with a 3.50 ERA. The left-hander also is starting for the second time after the All-Star break.
Valdez faces a Dodgers lineup that features a middle infield combination of Cavan Biggio and Nick Ahmed. Biggio is a career 2-for-4 with one home run and two RBI against Valdez, while Ahmed makes his third start at shortstop in as many games since signing with the Dodgers.
Freddie Freeman was scratched from the original Dodgers lineup as he’s left the team in order to be with his family and son, Maximus, who has become ill.
Stream Dodgers on Apple TV+ for free
Dodgers games can be streamed for “Friday Night Baseball” on any internet device where Apple TV+ can be found, including iPad, iPhone, Apple TV 4K and HD, Mac, and on tv.apple.com.
A paid subscription to Apple TV+, which is available for $9.99 per month, is required. However, a special two-month free trial is currently available for returning and new subscribers.
Dodgers lineup
DH: Shohei Ohtani
C: Will Smith
RF: Teoscar Hernández
CF: Andy Pages
LF: Miguel Vargas
3B: Kiké Hernández
1B: Cavan Biggio
SS: Nick Ahmed
2B: Gavin Lux
Astros lineup
2B: Jose Altuve
3B: Alex Bregman
DH: Yordan Alvarez
C: Yainer Diaz
SS: Jeremy Peña
1B: Jon Singleton
CF: Jake Meyers
LF: Joey Loperfido
RF: Chas McCormick
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