First pitch from PNC is 5:40 PM CT, and the Dodgers are sending out the best pitcher in baseball on a 4-game winning streak for the Pirates' opponent. Ohtani (6-2, 0.74 ERA) draws Jared Jones (1-0, 4.82), who is still ramping back up after missing all of 2025 recovering from a UCL procedure. The market reads exactly how you'd expect: LA -192, total 8.5.
Ohtani's last time out was 6 shutout innings on 89 pitches against Arizona — 2 hits, 6 punchouts, 1 walk. He has not allowed more than 2 earned runs in any start this season and has gone scoreless in 6 of 10. Per Yahoo, only deGrom in 2021 and Marichal in 1966 have posted a lower ERA through 10 starts since 1913. Jones, meanwhile, is making something like his third big-league appearance back. His last start was a 5-inning, 0-ER, 74-pitch effort at Houston — solid line, but the 4.82 ERA tells you there's been some traffic.
The Pirates are limping into this one. They've dropped 4 straight, including Tuesday's 12-3 dismantling where the Dodgers hung 10 in the 7th inning. That's the kind of loss that lingers into the next night, especially when the next night involves trying to scratch runs against Ohtani. Oneil Cruz is back in the lineup, which is the one bit of good news Pittsburgh's offense gets.
The Dodgers are 43-24 and just keep churning despite an injury list that reads like a depth chart. Glasnow, Snell, Stone, Miller, and Knack are all 60-day IL, the rotation is duct-taped, and Will Smith might still be headed for an IL stint with the neck issue Dave Roberts flagged Tuesday. None of it has mattered when Ohtani takes the ball.
- Day-To-DayWill Smith C — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday that Smith (neck) "still doesn't feel right" and might need a stint on the injured list, Kirsten Watson of Spectrum SportsNet LA reports.
- Day-To-DayChris Campos SP
- 10-Day-ILTeoscar Hernandez LF — Hernandez (hamstring) said Saturday that he expects to return from the injured list in about a month, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.
- 10-Day-ILEnrique Hernandez 1B — Hernandez is expected to be out for 6-to-8 weeks after sustaining a "significant tear" of his left oblique during Tuesday's 15-6 win over the Rockies, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
- 15-Day-ILBrock Stewart RP — Stewart (foot) threw to live hitters Saturday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
- 60-Day-ILTyler Glasnow SP — The Dodgers transferred Glasnow (back) to the 60-day injured list Saturday.
- 60-Day-ILBlake Snell SP — Snell (elbow) began playing catch Friday, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILEvan Phillips RP — Phillips (elbow) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday, yielding one hit and one walk over two-thirds of a scoreless frame.
- Day-To-DayOneil Cruz CF — Cruz is back in the lineup for Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
- Day-To-DayAnthony Solometo SP — Solometo underwent left shoulder labrum surgery and is expected to be sidelined until at least April 2027, Mark Chiarelli of Baseball America reports.
- Day-To-DayMitch Jebb LF
- Day-To-DayOddanier Mosqueda RP — Mosqueda will not throw for a couple weeks due to left forearm inflammation, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
- Day-To-DayMike Clevinger RP — Clevinger is expected to be sidelined for around six weeks after being diagnosed with an MCL sprain in his right knee, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DaySean Sullivan SP — Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Sullivan is battling right elbow soreness, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
- 10-Day-ILJoey Bart C — Bart (foot) is expected to start a rehab assignment this week, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILKonnor Griffin SS — Griffin (elbow) is scheduled to resume throwing Wednesday, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.
The only real question is whether the Pirates can keep this within a touchdown long enough to make the bullpen interesting. With Ohtani locked in and Jones on a short leash by usage, expect a quick start for the visitors and a long night for PNC.