Renee: The Dodgers just lost a heartbreaker on a walk-off, and now their best young pitcher is on the shelf. But we're not here to panic — we're here to break down exactly how they bounce back tonight in Atlanta.
Joel: Yeah, and it's a big one. First place in the NL West against first place in the NL East, and the Dodgers need to even this series before heading to Detroit.
Renee: Welcome back to Beatline, the only daily podcast that's got you covered on the Dodgers all season long. I'm Renee.
Joel: And I'm Joel. And on today's episode: we break down last night's brutal 6-5 loss, the Roki Sasaki blister news that's shaking up the rotation, and what to expect tonight with the series tied at zero.
Renee: Plus, we'll look at the key hitters who need to step up, the bullpen questions that just won't go away, and we'll give you our bold predictions for the rest of this series.
Joel: Let's get into it.
Renee: Joel, let's start with that game last night. The Dodgers had a 5-4 lead going into the ninth, and then Ha-Seong Kim — a pinch-hitter, of all people — singles home Lane Thomas with two outs. Walk-off, Braves win 6-5.
Joel: Yeah, that was a gut punch. But you know what? The Dodgers had their chances. They stranded runners, they couldn't get the big hit late, and the bullpen — again — couldn't close it out.
Renee: And let's talk about the bullpen because it's been a theme all season. Who came out of the pen last night?
Joel: We saw a few arms, but the key guy was probably Evan Phillips. He's been the high-leverage guy, and he got touched up. That's concerning because this is a Braves lineup that can hurt you in a hurry.
Renee: And now the bigger story: Roki Sasaki. He left Wednesday's start with a blister on his right middle finger, and he's going on the injured list. How big of a deal is this?
Joel: It's a big deal, Renee. Sasaki has been electric when healthy, but blisters are tricky for a pitcher. You never know how long they'll linger. And with the rotation already missing Bobby Miller and others, this hurts.
Renee: Right, and we should mention the other guys on the IL: Blake Treinen, Ben Casparius, Justin Wrobleski. It's a long list. But the good news is Tarik Skubal is back on Friday in Detroit, and Shohei Ohtani might pitch Sunday.
Joel: Exactly. So they've got reinforcements coming, but they need to survive this series first. And tonight they've got a tough matchup against the Braves.
Renee: Speaking of tonight, what do we know about the pitching probables? The Dodgers haven't announced a starter yet, but who do you expect to see?
Joel: I'd guess they'll go with a bullpen game or maybe Eric Lauer. They've got a few options, but nobody with Sasaki's upside. The Braves, meanwhile, are probably throwing one of their young arms, but we'll see.
Renee: So this could be a high-scoring game, then.
Joel: Potentially. The Braves have been swinging well, and the Dodgers' bullpen is tired. They need length from whoever starts, or this could get ugly.
Renee: Alright, let's take a quick break, and when we come back, we'll talk about the hitters who need to carry the load and those bullpen concerns.
Renee: We're back. Let's talk about the offense. Last night, the Dodgers scored five runs, but it wasn't enough. Who stood out?
Joel: Well, Mookie Betts has been on fire lately. He hit a homer in the series opener on Tuesday, and he's been getting on base consistently. He's the guy they're going to lean on.
Renee: And what about Kyle Tucker? He's been a monster since coming over. He had three hits in a game earlier this week, and he's been driving in runs.
Joel: Tucker's been exactly what they needed. He gives them that middle-of-the-order presence. But they need more from the bottom of the lineup. Max Muncy and Teoscar Hernandez have been streaky.
Renee: And Freddie Freeman is back in Atlanta — his old stomping grounds. How's he looked in this series?
Joel: Freeman's been solid, but he hasn't had that big moment yet. It's always emotional for him here, and the fans give him a lot of love. I wouldn't be surprised if he does something special tonight.
Renee: Now, the bullpen. We mentioned Evan Phillips got touched up. What's the bigger concern — the lack of a reliable closer or the overall workload?
Joel: I think it's the workload. They've been using Tanner Scott and Alex Vesia a lot, and those guys have been good, but you can't run them out there every night. The injuries to Treinen and Casparius have really stretched them thin.
Renee: And with Sasaki now out, that's another arm gone. How do they manage the rotation for the next few days?
Joel: They'll probably use an opener or a bullpen game today, then Skubal on Friday, and maybe Ohtani on Sunday. If they can get through this series and into Detroit with a split, that's not terrible.
Renee: But Joel, you said it — the Braves are first in the NL East. They're not going to roll over. What's the one thing the Dodgers need to do to win tonight?
Joel: Get ahead in the count. Their pitchers need to attack the zone early and not fall behind. The Braves have too many patient hitters, and if you're behind in the count, they'll make you pay.
Renee: Alright, so we've got the pitching matchup, the hitters, the bullpen. Let's take another quick break, and then we'll give you our keys to the series and our bold predictions.
Renee: We're back for our final segment. Joel, give us your keys to this series. The Dodgers are down 0-1, they've got a depleted pitching staff, but they're still 80-53 and leading the NL West. What's the path to taking this series?
Joel: First, they need to win tonight. You can't go down 2-0 in a four-game series — well, it's actually a four-game series, so they need to split at worst. Winning tonight makes it a new series.
Renee: And what about the bullpen? Can they get by with a patchwork crew?
Joel: They need someone to step up and be that shutdown arm. Maybe it's Tanner Scott or Alex Vesia, but they can't pitch every day. They need the starter to go six innings, and then they need the offense to build a lead so they don't have to use the high-leverage guys in a tie game.
Renee: And on the offensive side, we mentioned Mookie and Tucker. Who else needs to produce?
Joel: Shohei Ohtani is the DH — he's been hitting, but he hasn't had that monster game yet. If he can get going, this lineup is unstoppable. And I'd like to see Tommy Edman contribute from the leadoff spot.
Renee: Alright, let's make some predictions. Last time, I predicted a sweep with an Ohtani walk-off, and you predicted Mookie homers and a 2-1 series win. That didn't happen, Joel.
Joel: I know, I know. But tonight, I'm going with Mookie Betts to hit another home run. He's seeing the ball well, and he loves the big stage.
Renee: Bold. I'm going to say the Dodgers win tonight behind a strong start from whoever takes the mound — maybe Eric Lauer gives them five solid innings — and the bullpen holds this time. Final score 6-4.
Joel: I like that. And I'll go ahead and predict that Freddie Freeman has a big game — he's due for a moment in Atlanta. Maybe a three-hit night.
Renee: Alright, there you have it. To recap: the Dodgers need to bounce back tonight, the bullpen is still a question mark, and we've got our eyes on Mookie and Freddie.
Renee: Make sure to subscribe to Beatline so you don't miss an episode, and if you're listening on Apple or Spotify, leave us a five-star review. Tell your friends to tune in.
Joel: And follow us on social media for all the latest updates. We'll be back tomorrow with the recap.
Renee: Until then, let's go Dodgers!