Renee: Shohei Ohtani is back on the mound, and if you thought last week’s injury scare was bad, wait until you see what happens when he returns to the rotation.
Joel: That is a bold claim, Renee, but with the Dodgers sitting first in the NL West at 82-55, every pitch matters right now.
Renee: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network, I’m Renee Ayala, and this is your daily Dodgers preview.
Joel: And I’m Joel Blum. We are heading into a massive three-game home stand against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Renee: Here is what we are covering today: First, we break down the pitching matchup for tonight’s opener as the Dodgers host the Cardinals.
Joel: Second, we look at the offensive lineup, specifically how Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernandez are setting the table after that dominant win over Detroit.
Renee: And third, we address the elephant in the room: Shohei Ohtani’s return to the rotation and what it means for the rest of the staff.
Joel: It’s going to be a heavy topic, but let’s get right into it. The Cardinals are 68-70, third in the NL Central, and they come to LA looking to steal ground from a team that just cruised past the Tigers 6-1 yesterday.
Renee: Exactly. And before we dive in, remember our prediction from yesterday? We said Freddie would hit a walk-off homer in the final game of the series. Well, we’re still waiting on that one, but the energy is high.
Joel: We are always optimistic, Renee. Let’s move to Segment One: The Series and the Pitching Probables.
Renee: So, tonight is September 2nd, and the Dodgers are hosting the Cardinals at Dodger Stadium. It’s a crucial series as we head into the stretch run.
Joel: Right. And looking at the headlines, there is a lot of talk about Glasnow. He went seven innings yesterday against Detroit, giving up only two hits and one run.
Renee: Seven solid innings! That is exactly the kind of work you want from your ace. But tonight, who is on the mound for LA?
Joel: The brief doesn't list a specific probable starter for tonight, but given Glasnow’s efficiency yesterday, he might need a day. That puts us in interesting territory with the rotation.
Renee: Interesting? You mean chaotic? Because yesterday we were talking about injuries all over the place. Jack Flaherty is out, Gavin Stone is out, Bobby Miller is out.
Joel: It is a long season, Renee. The depth chart shows Tyler Glasnow, Eric Lauer, Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and obviously, Shohei Ohtani returning.
Renee: Ohtani. That word alone changes the entire dynamic of this series. If he starts tonight or tomorrow, the Cardinals have a major problem.
Joel: Let’s be tactical here. Even if Ohtani isn’t starting tonight, his presence in the clubhouse affects the bullpen usage. Managers play differently when they know their best pitcher is healthy and ready.
Renee: But what about the Cardinals’ side? They have some injuries too. Riley Greene is on the 10-day IL, and Jack Flaherty is out for them as well.
Joel: Wait, Jack Flaherty is listed for the Tigers in the last game injuries, not the Cardinals. Let me check that again. Ah, yes, the brief lists him under the Tigers' last game context. For the Cardinals, we see Wenceel Perez, Justin Wrobleski, Will Klein, and Burch Smith on the 60-day IL.
Renee: Okay, got it. So the Cardinals are dealing with significant injury issues themselves. Will Smith is out for the Dodgers on the 60-day IL, which is huge for us.
Joel: Will Smith missing is a big deal defensively and offensively. Hunter Feduccia and Ben Rortvedt will be catching. It changes the framing game, the pitch-calling dynamics.
Renee: Speaking of pitch-calling, with Ohtani potentially coming back, how does that impact the ABS challenge system? The leaderboard ranks catchers and umpires throughout the season.
Joel: Good point. Ohtani has been known to draw walks and foul off tough pitches. If he gets on base, the pressure mounts on the opposing catcher. With Smith out, the new catchers have to handle that pressure immediately.
Renee: So, the key tonight is managing the bullpen while keeping eyes on Ohtani’s status. If he goes, it’s a shortening of the game for the relievers. If he doesn’t, Tanner Scott and Evan Phillips might have to work deeper.
Joel: Precisely. And remember, we predicted yesterday that Evan Phillips would close out the game reliably despite the fatigue. We’ll see if that holds up here.
Renee: Stick with us, because in the next segment, we are breaking down the lineup card and why Freddie Freeman is the MVP of this current stretch.
Joel: Welcome back. In Segment Two, we are looking at Key Hitters and the Bullpen Questions, plus those lingering injuries.
Renee: Let’s talk offense. Yesterday, Freddie Freeman scored three runs in that 6-1 win over the Tigers. He is red hot right now.
Joel: He is. And Teoscar Hernandez homered in that same game. That is two of your top three bats producing. Mookie Betts and Kyle Tucker are lurking in the middle of the order.
Renee: Kyle Tucker in right field, Mookie in shortstop—this defense is elite. But can they protect the lead against the Cardinals’ hitters?
Joel: The Cardinals are 68-70. They aren’t scary offensively compared to LA, but they are dangerous in small sample sizes. You cannot take a single at-bat lightly.
Renee: Let’s pivot to the bullpen. We have Alex Vesia, Charlie Barnes, Jack Dreyer, Seth Halvorsen, Edgardo Henriquez, Kyle Hurt, Cole Irvin, Evan Phillips, Tanner Scott, and Brock Stewart.
Joel: That is a deep bullpen. But yesterday, we noted that the options felt limited due to fatigue. Now, with Ohtani potentially rejoining the rotation, do we need to use the bullpen less?
Renee: Yes! If Ohtani goes six or seven innings, you save Phillips and Scott for late-inning leverage. That is strategic management 101.
Joel: However, there is a risk. If Ohtani struggles early, you might burn through your best arms faster. It’s a gamble.
Renee: What about the injuries affecting the roster composition? Max Muncy and Enrique Hernandez are both playing first base. Tommy Edman and Miguel Rojas are on second.
Joel: Flexibility is key. Having Muncy and Hernandez capable at first allows you to rest legs or plug in platoon advantages. It’s about maximizing plate discipline and OBP.
Renee: And don’t forget Alex Call and Alek Thomas in the outfield. They provide speed and defense, which helps conserve energy for the pitchers.
Joel: Speed translates to extra bases, which puts pressure on the defense. The Cardinals have injuries on their end, so exploiting gaps in the outfield could be huge.
Renee: So, the takeaway: Freeman and Hernandez are driving the bus, the bullpen is deep but needs protection, and Ohtani’s health is the wildcard.
Joel: Agreed. And if Ohtani returns, the entire league adjusts. That psychological edge is real.
Renee: Before we wrap up the analysis, we have one more segment. In Segment Three, we give you the Keys to the Series and a Bold Prediction.
Joel: Alright, Renee. Keys to the series. Number one: Pitching depth. Whether it’s Glasnow, Lauer, Snell, or Ohtani, whoever starts must go at least five innings.
Renee: Number two: Run support. Freeman scored three runs yesterday. If he keeps that up, the starters can relax and throw strikes.
Joel: Number three: Defense. With Will Smith out, the framing game needs to be sharp. Every strike call counts.
Renee: And my bold prediction: Shohei Ohtani makes his return to the rotation in this series, and he throws a complete game shutout against the Cardinals.
Joel: Whoa. A complete game shutout? That is bold. I think he goes six strong, maybe seven, but a shutout against a struggling Cardinals lineup? Possible.
Renee: I’m sticking with it. The energy is building. The fans are hungry. Ohtani wants to prove himself.
Joel: I’ll adjust my prediction slightly: Ohtani starts, goes six innings, allows one run, and the Dodgers win the series 2-1.
Renee: See? We agree on the win. The details might vary, but the result is clear. The Dodgers are moving forward.
Renee: That’s all the time we have for today. Recap: The Dodgers host the Cardinals, Ohtani’s return is imminent, and Freeman is on fire.
Joel: Make sure to subscribe, rate, and review the show. Share it with a fellow Dodger fan.
Renee: Until next time, keep your eyes on the ball and your hope alive. Go Dodgers!