The Los Angeles Dodgers host the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, August 2 at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 7:20 PM ET. Emmet Sheehan gets the ball for Los Angeles opposite Boston's Jake Bennett in what shapes up as an intriguing pitching matchup between two young arms. The game airs nationally on NBC/Peacock and locally on Dodgers Radio AM570 and KTNQ 1020 in Spanish. With August underway, every game carries genuine weight as playoff positioning tightens across both leagues.
Dodgers vs. Red Sox Pitching Matchup: Sheehan vs. Bennett
Emmet Sheehan draws the start for the Dodgers in this high-profile Sunday night showcase. The right-hander has shown flashes of the stuff that made him one of the organization's more closely watched young arms — a power fastball he can pair with a sharp breaking ball when he's at his best. The key for Sheehan will be commanding the strike zone early in counts and limiting walks against a Red Sox lineup that is capable of working at-bats and grinding pitchers deep into counts.
Jake Bennett gets the nod for Boston. The left-hander will be tested by a Dodgers offense that plays at home in one of baseball's most recognizable environments. Bennett will need to keep the ball out of the air at Dodger Stadium, where the backdrop and the crowd can shift momentum quickly when the home team gets going.
Keys to Watch for the Dodgers
- Sheehan's command: How well Sheehan locates his fastball early will set the tone. If he's painting corners and getting ahead, this could be a dominant outing. If he drifts toward the middle of the plate, Boston has the lineup depth to make him pay.
- Dodgers offense vs. a left-hander: Los Angeles carries right-handed pop throughout its lineup, and Bennett being a southpaw means the Dodgers could look to exploit platoon advantages early. Watch how manager Dave Roberts constructs the lineup against a lefty starter.
- Bullpen management: With August games carrying real stakes, how both managers handle the middle innings will matter. The Dodgers' bullpen depth is a genuine asset — using it wisely in a game of this profile is the objective.
- Home-field energy: UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on a Sunday night with national television cameras rolling is as good as it gets for the regular season. The Dodgers have historically played well in high-visibility home spots, and the crowd will be a factor.
Prediction
Sheehan delivers a quality start — six innings, two runs or fewer — and the Dodgers' lineup does enough damage against Bennett in the middle innings to pull away. Expect a 5-2 Los Angeles win. The Dodgers take care of business at home in front of a national audience.
