The Dodgers head up the freeway for a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels, opening Monday night in Anaheim with ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the bump.
Yamamoto has spent much of his recent season pitching on the road — four of his last five starts were away from Dodger Stadium — and comes in off a 5.2-inning shutout outing at Tampa Bay. He’s also been stingy with long balls, surrendering just one homer since the start of July, a trend that matters greatly against an Angels club that leans heavily on the long ball.
The contrast between these teams this season is striking. As of Monday, eight MLB clubs have cleared 150 home runs; the Dodgers sit second with 175 and the Angels fourth with 169. Among those heavy-hitting teams, Los Angeles leads the group in runs per game (5.18) while the Angels lag at 4.36 — the only team among the eight below the league average of 4.42. That gap reflects differing offensive profiles: the Dodgers produce more consistently, while the Angels take a boom-or-bust approach and have struck out more than any other team in 2025, a stat that often limits their overall run production.
Yamamoto — who last pitched eight days ago and has a career-high of 10 strikeouts in a U.S. start, a mark he’s reached twice this season — will benefit from the extra rest as he looks to neutralize the Angels’ power and rack up punchouts.
Monday game info
Teams: Dodgers at Angels
Ballpark: Angel Stadium, Anaheim
Start time: 6:38 p.m.
TV: SportsNet LA
Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)
Additional notes and context
– Limiting homers is a clear path to slowing the Angels: their offense’s reliance on the long ball, combined with high strikeout totals, creates volatility that a strong starting performance can exploit.
– Yamamoto’s recent road success and extended rest increase the likelihood of an effective start; if he keeps the ball in the park and avoids free passes, the Dodgers’ lineup can capitalize.
– Watch the matchup of bullpen depth late in games: if Yamamoto exits early, how each team’s relievers handle high-leverage situations could decide the series opener.
Brief summary
Yoshinobu Yamamoto makes a rested start for the Dodgers in Anaheim, where his ability to limit homers will be crucial against a power-reliant Angels offense that pairs high home-run totals with the league’s highest strikeout rate. The game begins at 6:38 p.m. on SportsNet LA.
Hopeful angle
If Yamamoto maintains his current home-run suppression and commands his strike zone, the Dodgers can undermine the Angels’ swing-for-the-fences offense and generate steady scoring opportunities — a formula that plays to Los Angeles’ strengths and could set the tone for the short series.