Renee: Shohei Ohtani is coming back to the mound. Not just as a hitter, but as a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the stakes couldn't be higher as we head into September.
Joel: It is a massive moment for the rotation. The team sits at 82-55, first in the NL West, and they are about to face the St. Louis Cardinals in a critical series opener on September 2nd.
Renee: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network! I’m Renee, and this is your daily Dodgers preview. Joel, you were right about Freeman delivering yesterday.
Joel: I’ll take the win there. Tyler Glasnow went seven strong innings, allowing just two hits and one run, while Freddie Freeman scored three runs in that 6-1 victory over Detroit.
Renee: That was a statement win. Today, we break down the pitching matchups against St. Louis, the injury list that is growing longer by the day, and what it means for the playoff push.
Joel: We also look at the bullpen usage with Evan Phillips and Tanner Scott needing to carry heavy loads, plus the latest on when Shohei Ohtani rejoin the rotation.
Renee: Stick with us, because if Ohtani pitches, the entire landscape of the National League changes overnight. Let’s get into Segment One.
Renee: Okay, let's start with the big picture. We just swept the Tigers in a tough series, winning Game Three 6-1 after dropping the first two. Now we turn our attention to St. Louis.
Joel: Right. The Cardinals are coming to town for a three-game set starting Sunday night, September 2nd. It’s a prime-time matchup. The Dodgers are 82-55, sitting comfortably atop the NL West, but complacency is the enemy this time of year.
Renee: And looking at the rotation, it feels like we are playing with fire every single night. Yesterday, Tyler Glasnow was excellent. Seven innings, two hits, one run. That is exactly the kind of outing we need from our starters.
Joel: Glasnow provided stability. But here is the tactical issue: who starts Game One against St. Louis? And more importantly, how does the front office manage Shohei Ohtani’s return?
Renee: There have been headlines all week asking when Ohtani will rejoin the pitching rotation. We know he is recovering, but the timeline remains tight. If he doesn’t pitch in this series, do we lose a strategic advantage?
Joel: I think we see him on the mound eventually, but maybe not immediately in St. Louis. The risk of re-aggravating his knee is too high. Instead, we might lean on Blake Snell or Tarik Skubal, who had that emotional return against Detroit earlier in the series.
Renee: Skubal was incredible. Six solid innings against his former team, and Freddie hit the tiebreaking single in the seventh. It showed the resilience of this group.
Joel: Exactly. But against St. Louis, you have to respect their lineup. They aren't Detroit. They don't have Riley Greene or Kerry Carpenter right now due to injuries, but they still have dangerous bats.
Renee: Wait, did you say Detroit is missing players? Because looking at the Dodgers' injury report, it looks like a horror movie.
Joel: It is brutal for both sides. For Detroit, Burch Smith, Brant Hurter, Wenceel Perez, Justin Wrobleski, Gavin Stone, Will Klein, and Bobby Miller are all on the IL. Long-term absences.
Renee: And for us? Will Smith is on the 60-Day IL. That is a huge loss behind the plate. Who is catching the games if Ohtani isn't catching?
Joel: You have Hunter Feduccia and Ben Rortvedt stepping up. It’s not the same defensive framing ability as Will Smith, but they are serviceable. The bigger question is the offense without their primary battery mate.
Renee: Let’s move to Segment Two. The bullpen. With Glasnow going deep yesterday, that helps, but the rest of the staff is being stretched thin.
Joel: Absolutely. You look at the roster, and you see Evan Phillips, Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia, Charlie Barnes, Jack Dreyer, Seth Halvorsen, Edgardo Henriquez, Kyle Hurt, Cole Irvin, and Brock Stewart.
Renee: That is a lot of arms, but availability is key. In the last series, we saw how crucial late-inning relief is. Javier Báez made huge plays for Detroit, including a game-ending single off McGonigle.
Joel: That 2-1 loss in Game Two was painful. McGonigle got the save opportunity, but Báez was clutch. It shows why you cannot let up against any team, especially one fighting for positioning.
Renee: So, against St. Louis, who is closing? Evan Phillips has been reliable, but we heard predictions yesterday that he would close out the Tigers game, and he didn't because Glasnow finished it.
Joel: Right. Glasnow went seven, so the bullpen was barely touched. Against St. Louis, if the starter goes six, you need five outs from the pen. That is where Tanner Scott becomes vital. His strikeout rate is elite.
Renee: And what about the hitters? Teoscar Hernández homered in that 6-1 win. He’s been a consistent threat from left field.
Joel: Teoscar is dangerous. Pair him with Mookie Betts at shortstop—yes, he’s playing SS now—and Kyle Tucker in right, and you have a top-tier outfield. Max Muncy at third provides power.
Renee: Don't forget Enrique Hernandez at first base too. He adds versatility. But the real story is Shohei Ohtani. Even if he doesn't pitch, his presence in the DH spot changes everything.
Joel: It does. It forces the opposing manager to make decisions. Do you bring in a lefty specialist to face Ohtani? Or do you leave him in, knowing he can hit 100 miles per hour? It creates platoon splits issues for the other team.
Renee: Also, we have to mention the defensive shifts. With Mookie at short and Rojas available, the infield alignment is tricky. St. Louis will try to exploit gaps, but our range is elite.
Joel: Miguel Rojas at second gives us another glove upgrade. Tommy Edman is also there, providing speed. This team is built for October baseball, even if some pieces are injured.
Renee: Injuries remain the wildcard. Will Smith out. Ohtani’s status unclear. It puts pressure on the catchers and the bullpen to step up even more.
Joel: Pressure is good. It separates contenders from pretenders. We saw that against Detroit. When the lineup was shaky, Glasnow and Freeman stepped up. That’s championship DNA.
Renee: Speaking of championships, let’s talk about the ABS challenge system. How are the Dodgers ranking in terms of challenges and umpire calls?
Joel: The ABS tracker is interesting. Catchers are heavily involved in those decisions. Without Will Smith, Feduccia and Rortvedt have to be smarter about which pitches to challenge. It’s a mental game as much as a physical one.
Renee: Smart play. Okay, moving into Segment Three. What are the keys to winning this series against St. Louis?
Joel: Key number one: Pitching depth. You need a quality start from whoever takes the bump. Glasnow proved he can go deep, but can someone else match that?
Renee: And key number two?
Joel: Run support. Freeman, Ohtani, and Betts need to drive in runs early. If you go into the eighth inning tied, you’re relying on the bullpen, which is risky given the workload.
Renee: I agree. And my bold prediction? I think Shohei Ohtani makes his long-awaited return to the mound in this series. Maybe not Game One, but definitely one of the next two.
Joel: I’m going to disagree slightly. I think he stays in the DH role for this series to protect his arm. But I predict the Dodgers win the series 2-1, with Freeman hitting a walk-off home run in the finale.
Renee: Freeman walk-off again? He’s on a tear! But I stand by Ohtani pitching. It’s too big of a moment to pass up.
Joel: We’ll see. Either way, the Dodgers are favored. They are 82-55, first in the division, and playing at home. St. Louis is dealing with their own injury woes.
Renee: That’s right. The Cardinals are struggling without key contributors. The Dodgers need to capitalize on this home-field advantage before the trade deadline momentum fades.
Joel: It’s about consistency. One bad game doesn’t define the season, but a bad series can hurt seeding. The Dodgers must execute.
Renee: Execution is the name of the game. From Glasnow’s seven innings to Freeman’s clutch hits, this team knows how to close things out.
Joel: Sunday night, September 2nd. St. Louis comes to town. Can the Dodgers extend their lead in the NL West?
Renee: Don’t miss it. Make sure you subscribe, rate, and review the Beatline Podcast Network wherever you listen. Share this episode with your fellow Dodgers fans!
Joel: We’ll be back tomorrow with a full recap of the series opener. Keep watching the ABS tracker, keep an eye on Ohtani’s warm-ups.
Renee: Go Dodgers! See you next time.