The Los Angeles Dodgers host the St. Louis Cardinals at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, September 3, with first pitch scheduled for 10:10 PM ET. Tarik Skubal gets the ball for Los Angeles against Cardinals left-hander Quinn Mathews in a regular season matchup that carries real late-summer weight. With September baseball in full swing and roster expansion adding new wrinkles to every lineup, both clubs will be looking to make a statement under the Chavez Ravine lights.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Skubal vs. Mathews

Tarik Skubal is the headliner here, and his presence alone makes this a must-watch game. The left-hander is one of the more dangerous arms in the National League, and getting him at home in front of a Dodger Stadium crowd is exactly the kind of edge Los Angeles needs heading into the final stretch of the regular season.

On the other side, Quinn Mathews draws the assignment for St. Louis. The Cardinals left-hander will face one of the more demanding lineups in the NL, and pitching in Dodger Stadium — with its dimensions and its crowd — is a different kind of pressure than most venues on the circuit. This is a significant test for Mathews and the Cardinals' pitching staff.

Keys to Watch in This Matchup

Dodgers Offense Against a Left-Handed Starter

When Los Angeles faces a left-handed starter, the lineup construction becomes a chess match. Manager Dave Roberts will have options with his expanded September roster, and how he deploys his right-handed bats against Mathews could be the difference-maker early in the game.

Skubal's Command and Pitch Mix

Skubal is at his best when he's working all quadrants of the strike zone and keeping hitters off his fastball with his secondary offerings. Watch how he attacks St. Louis hitters in the first two times through the lineup — that will set the tone for everything that follows.

Cardinals' Ability to Generate Offense

St. Louis will need to find ways to manufacture runs against a Dodgers rotation that doesn't give much away. Baserunning, situational hitting, and plate discipline will matter if the Cardinals want to stay in this game through the middle innings.

How to Watch and Listen

• TV (English): SportsNet LA
• TV (Cardinals feed): Cardinals.TV Presented by bet365
• Radio (English): Dodgers Radio AM570
• Radio (Cardinals): KMOX 1120 AM / 104.1 FM
• Radio (Spanish): KTNQ 1020

Prediction

Skubal pitching at home is a strong foundation for a Dodgers win. Los Angeles has the lineup depth and the starting pitching advantage in this matchup, and UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on a September night is a tough place for visiting clubs to steal a game. Expect the Dodgers to control this one from the early innings. Dodgers win, 5–2.