The Los Angeles Dodgers had an amazing comeback in the bottom of the ninth inning on Friday, June 19th, against the Baltimore Orioles, thanks to a walk-off hit from Dalton Rushing.
Friday’s series opener was Mookie Betts’ iconic Game 7 bobblehead giveaway, and on Saturday, attending fans are getting treated to a special Shaquille O’Neal bobblehead.
Before Friday’s game, the Dodgers were dealt a major loss as Shohei Ohtani went on paternity leave for the birth of his second child.
On Saturday morning, Ohtani and his wife announced the successful delivery of their second child.
Manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani’s return was expected sometime this weekend, and indeed, the superstar is back to the top of the order.
Dodgers lineup vs. Orioles on Saturday
1. Shohei Ohtani, DH
2. Andy Pages, CF
3. Freddie Freeman, 1B
4. Mookie Betts, SS
5. Miguel Rojas, 2B
6. Tommy Edman, 3B
7. Kyle Tucker, RF
8. Alex Call, LF
9. Dalton Rushing, C
With the Dodgers facing a lefty, Alex Call is getting the start over Ryan Ward, while Miguel Rojas steps in at second base for the matchup.
Max Muncy gets a day off with Tommy Edman coming in, while Kyle Tucker is hitting seventh, the lowest spot he has batted since 2021.
Additionally, all eyes will be on Andy Pages and Mookie Betts to hit the ball well and deliver against a favorable matchup.
Who is pitching for the Dodgers?
The Dodgers will have their best starting pitcher on the mound, Yoshinobu Yamamoto. After a period where Yamamoto was having command issues, he has absolutely gotten his sharpness up.
At his best, he paints the ball all around the strike zone and keeps hitters guessing about what he is throwing as well.
His pitch arsenal is bigger than most pitchers around the league, and when he can throw them all accurately, hitters are at his mercy.
He is coming off a near no-hitter and a near-perfect game against the Chicago White Sox, and against the Orioles, he should be able to keep his success going.
