The Los Angeles Dodgers will try to avoid a season sweep and stay atop the National League West when they close their three-game series with the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. After dropping the first two meetings at the venue, including a 7-6, 10-inning defeat on Tuesday, Los Angeles (68-52) briefly slipped into a tie with the San Diego Padres for the division lead.
In Tuesday’s action, Reigning NL MVP Shohei Ohtani had a memorable night against his longtime team: he lined into a triple play in the sixth inning before homering in the ninth to spark a comeback attempt. The solo shot extended his hitting streak to 11 games, giving his club a 6-5 edge before the Dodgers ultimately prevailed 7-6 in extras. Ohtani has been delivering power lately, with home runs in four straight games and five of his last six, and he still leads the NL with 43 homers this season.
Ohtani (0-0, 2.37 ERA) will be back on the hill for the Angels in the series finale, making his ninth pitching start of the season. The two-way star, who underwent Tommy John surgery for the second time in September 2023 and did not pitch last year, yielded one run and struck out eight over four innings in his most recent start against the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Angels, six games back in the American League Wild Card race, turn to Kyle Hendricks (6-8, 4.63). The veteran right-hander has limited opponents to three earned runs or fewer in seven of his last eight starts, but he has just one win in that span.
The Dodgers entered the game as the -207 favorites, with the total set at 9.5.
Game details
– Dodgers at Angels
– Time: 9:38 p.m. ET
– Location: Anaheim, California
– TV: MLB Network
– Streaming: Fubo (start free trial)
What to watch
– Ohtani’s latest impact: After a standout night against his former team, the Angels will rely on Ohtani to keep producing at the plate and to be efficient on the mound in his ninth start of the year.
– Dodgers’ balance: Los Angeles remains focused on getting back to their winning ways behind strong offensive performances and timely pitching to weather a potential late push from the Angels.
– Head-to-head trend: The Angels have had recent success against the Dodgers, and the two teams will look to swing momentum in the finale.
Outlook
The Dodgers will seek to reclaim control of the division race with a defensive, late-inning push against a capable Angels squad that has benefited from Ohtani’s multifaceted contributions. If Los Angeles can plate runs early and avoid giving Hendricks extra chances, they’ll be in a good position to avert the sweep and regain their place atop the NL West.
Summary
Two teams with playoff aspirations square off in a decisive series finale in Anaheim. Ohtani’s continued big-game impact versus the Dodgers adds an extra layer of intrigue, while the Dodgers aim to close the door on this set and reassert their division lead.
Additional comments
– This matchup highlights the ongoing balance between elite offense and bullpen follow-through. For fans, it’s a showcase of a modern two-way star in Ohtani and a Dodgers lineup that has shown resiliency in recent weeks. If you’re tuning in, expect a tight battle that could come down to late-inning execution.
Note: If you’d like, I can add a concise pregame box with key stats, possible lineup changes, and a quick analyst takeaway to publish as a ready-to-post item.