The Los Angeles Dodgers have reached the halfway point in their final homestand of regular season and need a win Sunday to avoid a series loss against the Colorado Rockies.
The Dodgers have fallen behind in both games thus far and on Saturday squandered a lead. That loss, coupled with the San Diego Padres defeating the Chicago White Sox, left the Dodgers’ magic number to clinch the National League West at five.
Wednesday is now the earliest the Dodgers could wrap up the division. The Padres currently are just three games back in the NL West standings. San Diego and L.A. begin a key three-game series on Tuesday.
Also still hanging in the balance for the Dodgers is the No. 1 seed in the NL postseason bracket and best record in baseball. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the team is aware of the benefit with securing a first-round bye in the expanded playoffs format despite having that and losing in the NL Division Series in each of the last two years.
The Dodgers enter play with a four-game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers for the No. 2 seed in the NL.
Max Muncy was originally in the lineup, but has been replaced by Kiké Hernández. Muncy was scratched because of side soreness stemming from a diving attempt in Saturday’s loss. Muncy missed multiple months this season due to an oblique strain but is expected to return for the Padres series.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto takes the mound in the rubber match with the Rockies for his third start since returning from the 60-day injured list. Yamamoto threw four scoreless innings in both starts after getting activated.
“The last few outings, there was both sides, good and bad,” Yamamoto said through interpreter Yoshihiro Sonada. “I still have time, so I think I’m going to throw probably two more games. I’ll use those games as a good preparation.”
The Dodgers are hopeful Yamamoto can stretch out to six innings and 90 pitches.
Antonio Senzatela makes just his second start of the season after missing most of the year while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The right-hander allowed two runs over three innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks in his 2024 debut.
Dodgers lineup
DH: Shohei Ohtani
RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
LF: Teoscar Hernández
C: Will Smith
2B: Gavin Lux
CF: Tommy Edman
SS: Miguel Rojas
3B: Kiké Hernández
Rockies lineup
DH: Charlie Blackmon
SS: Ezequiel Tovar
3B: Ryan McMahon
1B: Michael Toglia
2B: Brendan Rodgers
CF: Sam Hilliard
LF: Nolan Jones
RF: Jake Cave
C: Hunter Goodman
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