Dodgers vs – After an 8-2 loss in Friday’s opener, the Los Angeles Dodgers try to even their series Saturday afternoon with Yoshinobu Yamamoto starting against Chicago right-hander Sean Burke at Rate Field. Yamamoto’s form, Ohtani’s return from knee inflammation, and a lin
When the Dodgers left the series opener behind on Friday night. it wasn’t just the score that stung—Los Angeles scored two runs. then watched Chicago blow the game open with a seven-run fifth inning. Now. on Saturday afternoon at Rate Field. they have a chance to reset quickly: even the series by returning to the win column.
The first step is on the mound. The Dodgers will hand the ball to right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto. who will try to steady a team that came up short on execution—stranding runners. missing chances early. and allowing free passes that compounded the damage after the bullpen was forced to cover significant innings in the opener.
Yamamoto brings a 6-4 record and a 2.68 ERA into Saturday’s start. He’s been one of Los Angeles’s rotation anchors this season. combining elite command with one of the game’s best splitters and curveballs. The expectation is simple: work deep. limit the free baserunners. and keep the Dodgers in the kind of games where their offense can find enough momentum to turn opportunities into runs.
Chicago counters with young right-hander Sean Burke. Burke has quality stuff, but inconsistency has followed him through the season. He enters Saturday with a 3-3 record and a 3.68 ERA.
For the White Sox, the memory of Friday’s turning point still matters. After enduring what Los Angeles did early—scoring opportunities that didn’t become a bigger lead—Chicago finally broke through in the fifth. That’s what the Dodgers will be focused on preventing this time around. especially with the same opponent and the same stakes: a series that will be decided in full by Sunday’s finale if Los Angeles can’t climb back into it.
Even with the pitching matchup set, the Dodgers know the game can tilt quickly if they don’t clean up the basics. Dave Roberts pointed to missed opportunities and free passes after Friday’s loss, emphasizing the need to limit damage on the mound while cashing in offensively.
The lineup carries that same promise. Los Angeles will feature Andy Pages. Freddie Freeman. and—potentially—Shohei Ohtani. a dangerous bat when the Dodgers put together quality at-bats. Ohtani is in the starting lineup after resting with knee inflammation. a return that could change the shape of the offense immediately.
One familiar face also figures into the story. Miguel Vargas, the former Dodger, continues to play well for Chicago and will once again face his former club.
Yamamoto vs. Burke sets up a straightforward test: can the Dodgers avoid repeating the opener’s early missed chances. and can their starter prevent another inning from turning into a blowout?. With Yamamoto taking the mound and the Dodgers looking to even the series heading into Sunday. Saturday’s outcome feels tied to one theme—execution—because the margin between a manageable game and an 8-2 setback can swing on a handful of at-bats and a few free passes.
Dodgers starting lineup for Saturday:
DH Shohei Ohtani
CF Andy Pages
1B Freddie Freeman
SS Mookie Betts
3B Max Muncy
RF Kyle Tucker
LF Ryan Ward
C Dalton Rushing
2B Alex Freeland
Starting pitcher: Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET / 1:10 p.m. PT at Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois. TV coverage will be on SportsNet LA and CHSN. Radio broadcasts include AM 570 LA Sports (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish), and ESPN 1000 Chicago.
Dodgers White Sox Yoshinobu Yamamoto Sean Burke Shohei Ohtani Dave Roberts Rate Field MLB preview