Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers have been stuck on 69 wins for a while (nice), as they dropped the first two games against the Red Sox. They got blown out on Friday and lost a one run game last night, but the sour taste of that was quickly cancelled out by the blockbuster trade of the night. Tarik Skubal is a Dodger now, and there’s less than 24 hours until the trade deadline. Before that, the Dodgers send Emmet Sheehan to the mound to try to stave off a sweep against the Red Sox and Jason Bennett.
Today's #Dodgers lineup vs. Red Sox: pic.twitter.com/st4XfV9zB2
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 2, 2026
Ready for Sunday Night Baseball! pic.twitter.com/WUnM0lUang
— Red Sox (@RedSox) August 2, 2026
Sheehan has been the subject of trade talks and was initially in Ken Rosenthal’s tweet as part of the return headed back to Detroit, but that was later corrected to be River Ryan. Sheehan was also rumored to have left the Dodger dugout during last night’s game, but clearly he’s still a Dodger for at least the next couple hours. Sheehan’s coming off a solid start in Queens, where he allowed a run on three hits in five innings against the Mets. Sheehan’s had a rough season with a 4.95 ERA/4.40 FIP in 92 2/3 innings, but he still shows flashes of that upside he showed in his sub-3.00 ERA season last year.
Lefty Jake Bennett starts for Boston. He’s posted a 2.74 ERA/3.28 FIP in 11 starts, but only has 46 strikeouts and 11 walks in 65 2/3 innings. Bennett had a 2.43 ERA in 177 2/3 minor league innings over three seasons before earning his first call up this season so he’s no stranger to run prevention, but so far his solid minor league strikeout numbers (178 in basically 178 innings) haven’t translated to the Majors. Bennett had a six-start stretch from June 17-July 17 where he allowed five runs total and completed six or more innings in five of those six starts, but he’s allowed three runs in each of his last two starts. Last time out, Bennett allowed three runs in 6 1/3 innings in Sacramento which is about as well earned as a quality start can be. Bennett’s absolutely dominated lefties in his career so far, giving up a .346 OPS in 63 plate appearances against lefties. Righties are OPSing .654 off him and all five of the homers he’s allowed this season have come against righties.
Despite Bennett’s dominance against lefties, the Dodgers are running out their normal everyday lineup. Tommy Edman hits third and starts at second and Max Muncy, Kyle Tucker and Dalton Rushing are all in the lineup against a lefty. Willson Contreras returns to the lineup for Boston after his scary HBP on Friday.
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The Dodgers made the Skubal trade official, and he’ll make his Dodger debut Tuesday.
Skubal will start in Chicago against the Cubs, which will also be his first career start at Wrigley. Eric Lauer is being moved to the bullpen for now and is also a popular trade rumor headed into tomorrow. Skubal seemed to be the main target at the deadline and the Dodgers are “downplaying” the idea of making more additions to the Major League roster. They were also downplaying the idea of Skubal, so Elly soon.
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In other rotation news, Shohei Ohtani could begin throwing again in Chicago.
Ohtani stopped catching after reporting some knee soreness following catch earlier this week. He’s remaining in the lineup, but the addition of Skubal hopefully turns down the pressure on hurrying his return to pitching.
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First pitch is scheduled for 4:20 (nice) PM PT and will be on NBC/Peacock.
