The Dodgers opened their final homestand with exactly the kind of finish that has defined their recent run: a comeback, a bullpen night, and another series win over the Giants.
Los Angeles erased an early deficit and beat San Francisco 3-1 on Sunday, completing a sweep of the Giants for the first time since April 1-3, 2024. The win was the Dodgers’ 14th in their last 17 games, and it pushed their season series dominance over San Francisco even further. They have now won the season set against the Giants in each of the last four years and are 46-22 against them since 2022.
The result also trimmed the Dodgers’ magic number to clinch a bye in the first round of the postseason and secure home field for Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Saturday, Oct. 3, to three. They have now won 32 series this season, sitting at 32-15-3, and they’ll get Monday off before finishing the homestand against the San Diego Padres.
For most of the afternoon, it looked like the Dodgers would have to grind for every inch. They trailed 1-0 until Tommy Edman finally cracked the lid open in the sixth, launching a solo homer with one out to tie the game and give Los Angeles some much-needed life after a quiet day at the plate.
The seventh brought the decisive push. Max Muncy opened the inning with a one-out single, Josue De Paula followed with another single to put runners at the corners, and Kiké Hernández delivered the go-ahead double. The Dodgers couldn’t tack on any more in that frame, but they didn’t need much more from the offense after that.
They still found one more insurance run in the eighth. Teoscar Hernández and Freddie Freeman each singled with one out, setting up Muncy to drop in a bloop single that made it 3-1.
The pitching side of the story started a little shakier. Jack Dreyer opened the game and gave up the first run after a leadoff walk and a throwing error on a pickoff attempt put Jonah Cox in scoring position. Victor Bericoto then singled him home with one out before Dreyer got the final two outs of the inning.
From there, though, Emmet Sheehan took over and shut things down. Recalled before the game with Tarik Skubal being placed on the bereavement list, Sheehan delivered 5.1 scoreless innings and allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out nine. The walk came with two outs in the third, and the lone hit against him came with one out in the sixth, but he responded by striking out the next two Giants hitters, never allowing San Francisco to get a runner into scoring position against him.
Kris Bubic finished the seventh, Brock Stewart handled the eighth, and Tanner Scott closed it out for the save. The Dodgers left with a sweep, a tighter grip on the division race, and another step closer to the postseason setup they’re chasing.
In Other News...
Kyle Tucker Just Gave Dodgers Fans A Scare They Couldnt Ignore
Kyle Tucker gave Dodgers fans a brief jolt during the game against the Giants when he fouled a pitch off his right knee and had to leave the field. The Dodgers trainer called the move precautionary, and Tucker was later seen on the bench smiling even as he favored the knee, which helped calm the immediate worry around a player who has been swinging the bat well lately.
For a Dodgers team looking to keep its lineup humming, any moment involving Tucker is going to draw attention. His recent offensive run has made him one of the more reliable presence in the lineup over the last 15 games, so even a short scare like this was enough to put the focus on his status and how the knee responds once the adrenaline fades. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Chasing Giants Sweep With A New Kyle Tucker Concern
The Dodgers entered Sunday still managing the aftermath of Kyle Tucker leaving Saturdays game early with a shin injury, and they chose to keep him out of the lineup as they try to finish off a sweep against the Giants. Jack Dreyer is taking the ball for Los Angeles, with San Francisco countering with left-hander Matt Wilkinson, while Mookie Betts leads off and Freddie Freeman is in the cleanup spot.
For a Dodgers club trying to keep its momentum rolling, Tuckers availability is the new subplot to watch. His absence changes the look of the lineup for now, and the timing adds a little extra tension to a game already carrying the weight of a potential sweep, especially with the club still waiting to see how he responds after the injury. [Read more 🡒]
Blake Snells Status Just Put Dodgers In A Tough Late-Season Spot
Blake Snells latest setback has put the Dodgers in a delicate place as the season winds down. Snell left his last start after just one inning because of left groin tightness, and while he has resumed throwing from 90 feet as part of his recovery, the club is still trying to be careful with how it handles him this late in the year. Manager Dave Roberts has said he hopes Snell can make another start before the regular season ends, but the Dodgers are clearly balancing that optimism against the bigger picture.
The timing is what makes it tricky, especially with a series against the Padres coming up and playoff positioning still in play. Los Angeles wants to have Snell available without forcing the issue, and every decision now has postseason implications attached to it. Even with some encouraging signs in his recovery, the Dodgers are left waiting on whether they can get one more meaningful start out of him before October arrives. [Read more 🡒]