The Los Angeles Dodgers are trying to salvage their series in Pittsburgh, and they’ll do it with reinforcements. Hyeseong Kim and Michael Kopech were both activated from the injured list ahead of Thursday’s finale against the Pirates.
Kim has been one of the Dodgers’ most effective role players this season, slashing .304/.338/.406 with 12 stolen bases in 58 games. After missing time with shoulder bursitis, he worked his way back with a strong rehab stint at Triple-A Oklahoma City, reaching base in every game while logging time at multiple positions. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said his versatility will remain a key part of the roster construction down the stretch.
“He’s been good, and the at-bat quality has been fine. He’ll be back with us on the road, so just kind of figuring out when he plays,” Roberts said, via True Blue LA. “This is his first year in the United States, and I think he’s done a fine job.”
A Heavyweight Pitching Duel
Vote For Your Favorite Dodgers Duo: Ohtani – Yamamoto, Betts – Freeman, Hernandez – Hernandez
The Pirates (63-77) will send 23-year-old phenom Paul Skenes to the mound. With a 2.05 ERA and 187 strikeouts in 167 innings, Skenes has firmly established himself as the favorite for the NL Cy Young Award.
The Dodgers counter with Blake Snell (3-3, 2.41 ERA, 38 SO), a two-time Cy Young winner who joined the rotation this offseason to stabilize Los Angeles’ push for another deep postseason run.
It’s a duel between the league’s best young arm and one of its most accomplished veterans — a stage made bigger by the fact that the Dodgers are trying to avoid a sweep before heading to Baltimore to face the surging Orioles.
Dodgers Lineup Today Vs. Pirates
Here’s how the teams will line up Thursday evening at PNC Park:
Dodgers Lineup Today
- Shohei Ohtani (L) – DH
- Mookie Betts (R) – SS
- Freddie Freeman (L) – 1B
- Teoscar Hernández (R) – RF
- Michael Conforto (L) – LF
- Andy Pages (R) – CF
- Hyeseong Kim (L) – 2B
- Miguel Rojas (R) – 3B
- Dalton Rushing (L) – C
Pitt Starting Lineup
- Jared Triolo (R) – SS
- Nick Gonzales (R) – 2B
- Bryan Reynolds (S) – RF
- Tommy Pham (R) – LF
- Andrew McCutchen (R) – DH
- Nick Yorke (R) – 1B
- Alexander Canario (R) – CF
- Henry Davis (R) – C
- Cam Devanney (R) – 3B
Spotlight Matchup: Ohtani vs. Skenes
As good as the lineups are, much of the attention will center on Shohei Ohtani’s showdown with Skenes. This will be their fourth career meeting, and the duel has quickly become one of baseball’s most compelling individual matchups.
Ohtani enters the night hitting .276 with 45 home runs and a .986 OPS, still the most dangerous bat in the Dodgers’ lineup even as Los Angeles fights through injuries. Skenes, meanwhile, has shown a rare ability to keep even the game’s brightest star from dictating the outcome, adding intrigue to a battle that has stolen headlines from the NFL’s opening night.
First pitch is set for 3:40 p.m. PT. With two Cy Young winners on the mound and Kim back in action, the Dodgers hope the mix of star power and reinforcements is enough to flip the momentum before leaving Pittsburgh.