The Los Angeles Dodgers are back from a disappointing road trip for a matchup with the Pittsburgh Pirates that was picked up by MLB Network for a national broadcast.
MLB Network added the series opener at Dodger Stadium to their programming due in large part to Paul Skenes and Yoshinobu Yamamoto taking the mound in an expected pitcher’s duel. MLB Network is carrying a simulcast of the SportsNet LA feed, and it will be available outside of the Los Angeles and Pittsburgh television markets.
Skenes is taking the mound for his sixth start of the season and third career outing at Dodger Stadium. He’s anticipating having a large group of friends and family in attendance after only his parents were on hand while the Pirates played the Los Angeles Angels earlier in the week.
Skenes, an Orange County native, grew up rooting for the Angels and among other games, attended Ohtani’s first home start as a pitcher.
Yamamoto also is in his second season and has looked every bit the part of the ace the Dodgers expected when signing him to the richest contract for a pitcher in MLB history.
Yamamoto is 3-1 with a 0.93 ERA, 2.03 FIP and 0.86 WHIP in five starts this season. The right-hander is coming off an outing in which he went toe-to-toe against Jacob deGrom as the Dodgers took the opener of their series with the Texas Rangers.
That prompted Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to declare Yamamoto as the best pitcher in the National League. Roberts added the caveat that his opinion was a slight to Skenes, but rather indicative of how strong of a 2025 season Yamamoto is having thus far.
Paul Skenes’ start at Dodger Stadium
When Skenes made his first career at Dodger Stadium last year it was his second time facing the Dodgers. He got through six innings at Chavez Ravine but gave up four runs and suffered his first road loss of the season.
Gavin Lux had three RBI against Skenes, and Teoscar Hernández hit a solo home run in the Dodgers’ 4-1 win.
“I think every at-bat is important, whether it’s against a mop-up guy or the Paul Skenes of the world. But yeah, I think there’s a little extra adrenaline in there when you’re facing a guy that has that good of stuff,” Lux said after the game.
“We’re all competitors, so I think there’s a little extra something there, for sure.”
The four runs allowed stood as the most Skenes allowed in a start en route to winning NL Rookie of the Year honors and a third-place finish for Cy Young.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
