The Los Angeles Dodgers head to Flushing for a Saturday night showdown at Citi Field, with first pitch scheduled for 7:15 PM ET on July 25, 2026. Yoshinobu Yamamoto takes the ball for Los Angeles against New York Mets right-hander Nolan McLean in what shapes up as a compelling pitching matchup. The game is nationally televised on FOX, with radio coverage available on Dodgers Radio AM570. For a Dodgers club with championship aspirations, road games in New York carry real weight — this one is no exception.

Pitching Matchup: Yamamoto vs. McLean at Citi Field

Yoshinobu Yamamoto anchors this start for Los Angeles. The right-hander remains one of the most closely watched arms in the Dodgers rotation, and any Yamamoto outing is a marquee event. His ability to generate swing-and-miss with a deep pitch mix — fastball, splitter, breaking ball — gives the Dodgers a genuine advantage every time he takes the mound.

Opposing him is Nolan McLean, who gets the ball for the Mets in what could be an opportunity for the young hurler to make a statement against a Dodgers lineup built to punish mistakes. Without extensive current-season data on McLean available, the smart approach is straightforward: watch how he handles the Dodgers' lineup depth and whether he can keep the ball in the yard at Citi Field.

Mets Lineup: Key Threats to Watch

The Mets are sending a lineup with recognizable names and legitimate firepower. A few players worth tracking closely:

• Francisco Lindor (SS, batting 2nd): The Mets' heartbeat. Lindor is dangerous in every at-bat and capable of changing a game with one swing or one play in the field.
• Bo Bichette (3B, batting 3rd): Slotted into the middle of the Mets order, Bichette brings a contact-heavy, aggressive approach that can punish any pitcher who falls behind in the count.
• Luis Robert Jr. (CF, batting 5th): The former White Sox outfielder brings plus athleticism and power potential. When Robert is locked in, he is a legitimate middle-of-the-order threat.
• Francisco Alvarez (C, batting 9th): Don't sleep on the nine-hole. Alvarez has the kind of raw power that makes him dangerous even at the bottom of a lineup.

Keys to the Game for Los Angeles

• Yamamoto's command early: If Yamamoto establishes his full arsenal in the first two innings, the Mets are going to be in for a long night. A quick start from him sets the tone for the entire Dodgers bullpen workload.
• Handling Lindor and Bichette: The second and third spots in New York's order represent the biggest threat. Keeping those two off the bases limits the damage Carson Benge and Robert can do behind them.
• Dodgers offense versus McLean: Without a deep track record on McLean to lean on, the Dodgers' approach should be patient. Work counts, get into the bullpen, and capitalize on mistakes.
• Road composure at Citi Field: Citi Field can generate real energy on a summer Saturday night. The Dodgers will need to stay disciplined in a hostile environment.

Prediction

This game comes down to Yamamoto. When he is on, the Dodgers are extremely difficult to beat regardless of where they are playing. McLean is an unknown quantity at this level against a deep Los Angeles lineup, and that uncertainty favors the Dodgers. Expect Yamamoto to deliver a quality start, the Dodgers offense to find enough against McLean in the middle innings, and Los Angeles to come away with a road win. Dodgers, 4-2.