The Los Angeles Dodgers head to Oracle Park on Friday, September 25, 2026, for a late-season NL West showdown against the San Francisco Giants. First pitch is scheduled for 10:15 PM ET, with the game airing on SportsNet LA. With the regular season winding down, every game carries real weight in the standings, and the Dodgers are sending one of their best arms — Tarik Skubal — to handle business against a Giants club that is leaning on Yunior Marte to take the ball.

Pitching Matchup: Tarik Skubal vs. Yunior Marte

Tarik Skubal gets the nod for the Dodgers. The left-hander is one of the marquee arms in the rotation, and this assignment at Oracle Park is no accident. San Francisco counters with Yunior Marte, a right-hander who will need a strong outing to keep this Giants lineup competitive against a Dodgers offense that has the firepower to put up runs in bunches.

This is a clear pitching advantage for Los Angeles on paper. Whether Skubal can work deep into the game and give the bullpen a rest will be one of the central storylines to watch.

Dodgers Lineup to Watch

Manager Dave Roberts is rolling out a stacked order. Shohei Ohtani leads off as the designated hitter, with Mookie Betts batting second at shortstop and Freddie Freeman hitting third at first base. That 1-2-3 punch is about as dangerous as it gets in the National League.

• Shohei Ohtani (DH) — Leading off and setting the table from the jump
• Mookie Betts (SS) — Batting second, still one of the most complete players in baseball
• Freddie Freeman (1B) — The heart of this lineup hitting third
• Will Smith (C) — Protection behind Freeman in the cleanup spot
• Kyle Tucker (RF) — Brings another big bat in the five hole
• Teoscar Hernández (LF) — Power threat batting sixth
• Max Muncy (3B) — Always a home run threat, batting seventh
• Andy Pages (CF) — Hitting eighth and capable of making something happen
• Enrique Hernández (2B) — Rounds out the order in the nine spot

Giants Lineup and Keys for San Francisco

The Giants are running out a lineup that includes Jonah Cox leading off in center field, Brett Harris at first base, Victor Bericoto as the designated hitter, and Bo Davidson in the cleanup spot in right field. Marcelo Mayer draws the six hole at second base. For this group to compete against Skubal, they will need to work counts, generate traffic on the bases, and find ways to string hits together rather than waiting on the three-run home run.

Three Keys for the Dodgers

• Skubal's command early: If he establishes himself in the first two innings and limits free passes, this game should be manageable from the start.
• The top of the order getting on base: Ohtani, Betts, and Freeman creating chaos early against Marte will set the tone and put pressure on San Francisco's bullpen quickly.
• Bullpen management: With the regular season wrapping up, how the Dodgers handle the back half of this game matters, both for tonight's result and for roster readiness going forward.

Prediction

The pitching matchup heavily favors Los Angeles. Skubal is the best arm on the field tonight, and the Dodgers lineup — top to bottom — has too much talent for a Giants club leaning on Marte to contain for nine innings. Look for the Dodgers to get on the board early and control this game from the middle innings on. Dodgers win, 5-2.