As Major League Baseball enters the final stretch of the regular season, the Los Angeles Dodgers visit the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park for a key three-game series. For Los Angeles, the matchup serves as a vital push to secure the National League West division title and avoid the high-stakes Wild Card round in the upcoming MLB postseason, according to reports from El Tiempo MX.
Clayton Kershaw Leads Dodgers Into Pittsburgh Series
The Los Angeles Dodgers arrive in Pennsylvania holding the top spot in the National League West, though they dropped a weekend series against the Arizona Diamondbacks that snapped a four-game win streak. During those recent losses, the Dodgers’ offense sputtered, managing just a single run over the first two games. To right the ship, Dave Roberts hands the ball to veteran left-hander Clayton Kershaw.
Kershaw enters Tuesday’s outing with a 9-2 record and a 3.06 ERA, coming off a dominant month of August. Across five starts last month, Kershaw posted a spotless 5-0 record, an elite 1.88 ERA, 19 strikeouts, and only three walks over 28.2 innings pitched. The left-hander remains the anchor of a rotation tasked with holding off division rivals down the homestretch.
Pirates Look to Spoil and Build Momentum
While the Dodgers eye October baseball, the Pittsburgh Pirates are playing out the final weeks of their campaign with a strong late-season surge. According to El Tiempo MX, Pittsburgh enters the series having captured four consecutive series victories—including wins over strong contenders like the Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox—for a 9-4 stretch. Despite the recent winning form, time has run out on their playoff ambitions, with their elimination number resting at 12.
Pittsburgh counters Kershaw by sending right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski to the mound. Mlodzinski holds a 3-7 record and a 3.86 ERA as he returns to the starting rotation. In his most recent appearance, he worked three innings, allowing one run on three hits and three walks.
Matchup Details and Broadcasting Information
This week’s series marks the final three meetings between the two clubs during the 2025 regular season. Earlier in the year, the head-to-head ledger saw Pittsburgh take a 3-0 shutout on April 25, before Los Angeles bounced back with 8-4 and 9-2 victories on April 26 and April 27.
The opening game takes place on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. First pitch is scheduled for 3:40 p.m. local Pacific Time (6:40 p.m. Eastern Time / 4:40 p.m. Mexico City time). Fans can watch the action live via regional broadcasts on SportsNet LA in Los Angeles and SportsNet Pittsburgh, or stream the game nationwide through an active MLB.TV subscription.
Following this series, the Dodgers will continue their late-season divisional push, while the Pirates press on through their remaining September schedule. Share your predictions for tonight’s pitching duel in the comments below.
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