Renee: Shohei Ohtani is back on the mound. Well, almost. And Tarik Skubal just made his return to Detroit one for the ages. What happens in game two? You're about to find out.
Joel: And the Dodgers are sitting at 81-54, first in the NL West, with a chance to lock down this series against the Tigers before heading home.
Renee: This is the Beatline Podcast Network. I'm Renee.
Joel: And I'm Joel. Los Angeles Dodgers baseball, coming at you live.
Renee: Dodger fans, get ready. Today we're breaking down game two of this series against the Detroit Tigers. We've got the pitching probables, the bullpen questions, and of course, the Ohtani watch.
Joel: Plus, can the Dodgers build on that 2-1 win from last night? Let's dive in.
Renee: Alright, Joel, let's start with last night. The Dodgers took game one 2-1 over the Tigers. That was a tight one.
Joel: It was. And the big story, of course, was Tarik Skubal. He threw six strong innings against his former team, and he was visibly emotional leaving the mound at Comerica Park.
Renee: You could see it. He teared up. That had to be tough, facing the team that drafted him and developed him.
Joel: Absolutely. And he handled it like a pro. Six innings, kept the Tigers off balance, and the bullpen did just enough to close it out.
Renee: So now it's game two. Same two teams, Comerica Park again. What are we looking at for today's matchup?
Joel: Well, we don't have the official probables yet, but the Dodgers have a few options. Could be a bullpen game, or maybe they go with one of the young arms.
Renee: And the Tigers? They're 62-72, fourth in the AL Central, so this is a winnable game for the Dodgers.
Joel: Right. The Tigers are struggling, but they've got some dangerous hitters. We saw Riley Greene is on the IL, so that helps, but they still have guys who can hurt you.
Renee: Let's talk about the Dodgers' rotation. We've got Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and of course, the return of Shohei Ohtani to the mound is getting closer.
Joel: Ohtani threw another bullpen session on Friday, and the team says his return is TBD. But it's getting close. That's exciting.
Renee: How close are we talking? Could we see him on the mound in the next couple of weeks?
Joel: It's possible. The fact that he's throwing bullpen sessions is a big step. But they're going to be cautious. They don't want to rush him back and risk anything.
Renee: Let's shift to the offense. The Dodgers got just two runs last night, but a win is a win. Who stood out for you?
Joel: Mookie Betts had a quiet night, but he's been the engine of this lineup all season. And we predicted he'd go deep in game one, but it didn't happen. Maybe today?
Renee: We'll get to predictions later. What about Shohei? He's been in a bit of a slump lately, and we talked about that yesterday. Did he break out last night?
Joel: He didn't homer, but he looked more comfortable at the plate. And with his bullpen session, you can see the confidence building. He's close to breaking out.
Renee: And what about the rest of the lineup? Kyle Tucker, Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernandez — they've all been producing.
Joel: Exactly. This lineup is deep. And with Alex Call and Alek Thomas in the outfield, they have speed and defense. It's a balanced attack.
Renee: Now, the bullpen. That's been a concern, especially after the Braves series where they blew a couple of leads. How do you feel about the bullpen right now?
Joel: It's a work in progress. They've got Evan Phillips, Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia — those guys are solid. But the middle relief has been shaky. They need to find consistency.
Renee: And there are some injuries to watch. Blake Treinen is on the 60-day IL, and Bobby Miller too. That hurts the depth.
Joel: No doubt. But the front office brought in some arms like Cole Irvin and Jack Dreyer to fill gaps. It's about who steps up in the moment.
Renee: Let's talk about the Tigers' injuries. They've got Kerry Carpenter, Riley Greene, Wenceel Perez — a bunch of guys on the IL. That's got to hurt their offense.
Joel: It does. Riley Greene is a big loss for them. But they still have guys like Matt Vierling and Colt Keith who can do damage. You can't take them lightly.
Renee: Alright, Joel, what are the keys to winning this series? The Dodgers already have game one. What do they need to do today?
Joel: First, they need to get to the Tigers' starter early. If they can put up a couple of runs in the first few innings, it takes the pressure off the bullpen.
Renee: And what about the bullpen? They need to keep the game close, especially if it's a bullpen game today.
Joel: Exactly. The bullpen has to throw strikes and not walk guys. The Tigers will take their walks if you give them to them.
Renee: And on offense, who needs to step up? We talked about Ohtani. Is today the day he goes deep?
Joel: I think so. He's been seeing the ball well, and he's due. I'll say he hits his first homer since the break.
Renee: I like that. I'm also looking at Mookie Betts. He's been quiet in this series. I think he breaks out today with a multi-hit game.
Joel: Alright, so here's my bold prediction for today: The Dodgers win 5-3, and the bullpen throws four scoreless innings. Renee, what's yours?
Renee: I'm going with a 6-2 Dodgers win. And I'll say Ohtani hits a two-run homer to put the game out of reach.
Joel: That would be a statement. And it would set up a sweep tomorrow. The Dodgers are rolling.
Renee: So there you have it, Dodger fans. Game two of this series, right here at Comerica Park. The Dodgers are looking to make it two in a row.
Joel: Don't forget to subscribe to the Beatline Podcast Network, rate us five stars, and share this episode with your fellow Dodgers fans.
Renee: And as always, let's go Dodgers! We'll see you tomorrow for the series finale.