Renee: Teoscar Hernández just dragged the Dodgers back from the brink with a walk-off double, but now we’re staring down a bullpen that’s picking up pieces and a superstar who might not be able to pitch in October. Is Shohei Ohtani safe for the postseason, or are we looking at a one-dimensional monster?
Joel: It is a delicate balancing act, Renee. We have an 84-57 record holding first in the NL West, but the injury report reads like a phone book. Tonight, we break down the pitching matchup against Washington and whether the D-Backs' loss helps us catch Colorado.
Renee: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network! I’m Renee, and this is your daily Dodgers preview. Joel is here to break down the tactical side of things. Before we get into the weeds, Ava has laid out our three key topics for today.
Joel: That’s right. One: The pitching probables and how we handle the Nationals' lineup. Two: The injury landscape, specifically Bobby Miller, Brusdar Graterol, and Gavin Stone on the 60-day IL, plus Edwin Diaz on the 15-day. And three: Shohei Ohtani’s status—day-to-day with biceps and neck issues—and what that means for the rotation.
Renee: We also look at Tommy Edman’s four-hit game last night as the Dodgers took the series finale 5-3. Let’s jump straight into Segment One: The Series and the Pitching Probables.
Joel: So, Washington comes to town. They’re 67-75, fourth in the NL East. Not exactly a scary team on paper, but you know how these late-season matchups go. The key is getting quality starts because the bullpen is stretched thin.
Renee: Right. And looking at the roster, we’ve got Tyler Glasnow, Tarik Skubal, Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Justin Wrobleski, and Cole Irvin available for starts. Who do you see leading the charge tonight?
Joel: I’d lean toward Skubal if he’s healthy. His strikeout rate has been elite all year. But honestly, with the depth we have, any of those five can eat innings. The issue isn't the starters; it's who is left in the pen when Game Three rolls around.
Renee: That’s the fear. We talked about this yesterday—the strain on the arms. Evan Phillips, Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia, Charlie Barnes, Jack Dreyer, Seth Halvorsen, Edgardo Henriquez, Kyle Hurt, Brock Stewart, Blake Treinen. That’s a lot of names to manage carefully.
Joel: Exactly. You don’t want to blow anyone out against Washington. You need to preserve the high-leverage guys for the playoff push. It’s about pitch count limits and rest days. If Skubal goes six strong, we save the heavy hitters for later.
Renee: And let’s not forget Keibert Ruiz is day-to-day for Washington too. Their catcher situation is shaky. Maybe that opens up some opportunities for Will Smith behind the plate? He’s been solid since his return.
Joel: Will Smith is a force. His framing and game-calling have been crucial. Against a shaky catching duo, he could manipulate the zone effectively. But ultimately, it’s about the pitchers owning their spots. High heat in the corners, changeup away.
Renee: So, quality starts from the big five, smart bullpen management, and capitalizing on defensive miscues. Sounds like a plan. But before we talk about hitting, we need to address the elephant in the room.
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Joel: Let’s talk about Shohei Ohtani. He was held out of Friday’s lineup for the second straight game due to biceps and neck issues. Headlines say they are 'hopeful' he doesn't need the IL, but the caution is palpable.
Renee: It’s frustrating for fans. We saw him physically uncomfortable striking out four times against St. Louis. Then Teoscar came through with that walk-off double to save the series. Did Ohtani’s absence hurt the offense?
Joel: Offensively, no. Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Kyle Tucker, and Teoscar Hernandez stepped up. Teoscar had that dramatic ninth-inning hit. But defensively and strategically, losing Ohtani is huge. The question is: will he pitch in October?
Renee: Five questions for LA, as ESPN put it. Is his value as a pitcher worth risking his bat? Because if he’s healthy enough to DH, why not throw?
Joel: Because the risk is catastrophic. If he re-aggravates the biceps or neck in September, he’s gone for the playoffs. The Dodgers are protecting their asset. He’s likely going to be a DH-only presence unless there’s a significant delay in the postseason schedule.
Renee: That makes sense. Protect the bat. Now, let’s look at the rest of the roster. We have Dalton Rushing and Hunter Feduccia behind the plate with Will. In the infield, Tommy Edman is hot with that four-hit game.
Joel: Edman provides great speed and contact. Max Muncy and Enrique Hernandez give us power from third. Miguel Rojas adds defense at second. It’s a versatile lineup. Even without Ohtani starting, the depth allows us to shuffle lines and keep defenses guessing.
Renee: And the bullpen? With DJ Herz, PJ Poulin, Richard Lovelady, Drew Millas, Bobby Miller, Brusdar Graterol, and Gavin Stone all on the 60-day IL, the relief corps is running on fumes.
Joel: It’s severe. We’re relying heavily on veterans like Treinen and Scott. The younger arms like Dreyer and Barnes need to step up. It’s about minimizing damage. Ground balls, weak contact. We can’t afford extra-base hits in tight games.
Renee: So, the mantra is: shorten the game. Get the outs early, protect the lead, and trust the remaining arms. Let’s move to Segment Three: Keys to the Series and a Bold Prediction.
Joel: The key is execution. Washington is playing spoiler baseball. They know they’re out of contention, so they’ll swing for the fences. We need to stay disciplined at the plate. Don’t chase the slider in the dirt.
Renee: Agreed. And defensively, we need to be sharp. No errors. Every run matters when the bullpen is this taxed. What’s your bold prediction for this series against Washington?
Joel: I predict the Dodgers split the first two games, as we said yesterday, but win the series 2-1. Why? Because the bullpen fatigue will bite them in a close game, but our starters will outduel Washington’s weaker arm in the finale.
Renee: I’m going to go bigger. I think we sweep. Teoscar is hot, Edman is clicking, and if Skubal gets his stuff early, Washington won’t know what hit them. Plus, Ohtani might return as a DH to spark the lineup.
Joel: A sweep is possible, but risky. I’ll stick with 2-1. It keeps our arms fresh for the potential Wild Card round. We don’t need a sweep; we need wins. Efficiency over drama.
Renee: Fair point. Efficiency is king in September. So, whether it’s a sweep or a tight 2-1 series, the Dodgers are positioned well. 84-57, first in the NL West. Let’s wrap this up.
Renee: To recap: The Dodgers face Washington with a stretched bullpen and a cautious approach to Shohei Ohtani. Quality starts and smart bullpen usage will be the difference makers.
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Renee: Thanks for listening to the Beatline Podcast Network. Go Dodgers!