(Photo credit: William Liang-Imagn Images)
The Los Angeles Dodgers scored nine runs in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday and still are not likely to have any sympathy for their opponent entering Sunday afternoon's season finale between the Southern California clubs at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers are one victory away from a 6-0 season against the Angels, which would deliver payback for last season. The Dodgers won their second consecutive World Series but lost all six games to the Angels, who finished last in the American League West.
Shohei Ohtani continues to be a nightmare for his former club, giving the Dodgers their final runs of the first inning Saturday with a two-run home run.
Ohtani has six home runs in 15 career games against the Angels. He won two American League MVP awards while playing for them from 2018-23.
The Angels and Colorado Rockies are tied for the worst record in the major leagues at 24-41. The Dodgers have the second-best record at 42-23. The Atlanta Braves are first at 44-21.
The Dodgers will send right-hander Emmet Sheehan (3-2, 4.50 ERA) to the mound Sunday. Sheehan's only start against the Angels came Aug. 12, 2025, when he gave up five runs over five innings in a no-decision.
The Dodgers saw a 19 2/3-inning scoreless streak from their starters end when Yoshinobu Yamamoto allowed a run in the first inning Saturday. But Yamamoto closed the outing with 7 1/3 scoreless innings -- he retired the next 22 batters in a row -- leaving a new streak in the hands of Sheehan.
'There are so many opportunities to learn watching guys (in this rotation) pitch,' Sheehan said Saturday. 'It's great to see guys go out there and have success against certain teams you'll be pitching to to get an idea of what works and what doesn't. It's been awesome to be a part of it.'
The Dodgers' big offensive night Saturday came without All-Star catcher Will Smith, who was a late scratch due to neck stiffness. Smith is expected to return to the lineup Sunday, which originally had been targeted as his day off.
The Angels' forgettable night on Saturday began when right-handed starter Jack Kochanowicz faced eight batters and recorded only one out. He allowed seven runs (six earned). Shortstop Zach Neto had a throwing error that allowed two early runs to score, and reliever Brent Suter gave up the final two runs of the inning.
After the first inning, the bullpen crew of Suter, Samy Natera Jr., Drew Pomeranz and Ryan Zeferjahn held the Dodgers scoreless for the rest of the game. Natera was making his major league debut.
On Sunday, the Angels will send their best starter to the mound in right-hander Jose Soriano (6-4, 2.72 ERA). However, after a blistering beginning to the season with five wins in five starts and an ERA of 0.28, he is 1-3 with a 5.13 ERA over his past six starts. He has issued 22 walks over 33 1/3 innings in that stretch.
'I mean the stuff is there right?' Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said of Soriano. 'If the stuff is there, I think it's execution. I think when he gets ahead in the count, he's got to execute a little better, put guys away. I believe he's not far off. You're as far off as you think you are.'
In three career appearances (two starts) against the Dodgers, Soriano is 1-1 with a 5.25 ERA and has not allowed a home run over 12 innings.
Also Saturday, the Angels lost Jorge Soler (oblique) to the 10-day injured list, but first baseman Nolan Schanuel returned from an ankle injury, going 0-for-3.
--Field Level Media
