The Dodgers face the Giants at Dodger Stadium on Thursday (Japan time Friday) in the first of a four-game series. Shohei Ohtani will start as the leadoff designated hitter, looking to hit his seventh home run of the season for the first time in 11 games.
Roki Sasaki takes the mound on eight days’ rest, seeking his second win of the season. The right-hander enters with a 1-3 record and a 5.97 ERA. The Giants counter with right-hander Trevor McDonald, who is 1-0 on the year.
In Ohtani’s first at-bat, he grounded out to first on a 94-mph sinker on the first pitch from McDonald. After two outs, Freddie Freeman doubled, but the Dodgers couldn’t score.
Sasaki’s outing began strong. In the first inning, he retired the side in order on seven pitches, aided by a fine defensive play by Teoscar Hernández. In the second, he allowed a leadoff solo home run to Rafael Devers on a 91-mph splitter, followed by a single. But Sasaki struck out the next three batters – LaMonte Wade Jr., Matt Chapman and Mike Yastrzemski – all swinging, to escape further damage. He threw 32 pitches through two innings.
Dodgers lineup:
Dodgers’ Mookie Betts takes batting practice before the game (Reuters)
Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers takes batting practice before the game against the Giants (Reuters)
Shohei Ohtani leans on the cage during batting practice before the Giants game (Reuters)
Shohei Ohtani runs through the dugout waving to fans before the Giants game (Reuters)
