How to watch Astros at Dodgers, starring Shohei Ohtani on the mound and a chorus of boos
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This particular rivalry became a pressure point for the entire sport after Houston was snared in the sign-stealing scandal of the 2017 World Series. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich published an essential report on all the improprieties. The Astros organization was eventually punished with fines, manager suspensions and docked draft picks … but every single pro sports enterprise would gleefully take that on the chin for a championship ring.
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For Dodgers fans, it was searing enough to lose a World Series title under such murky circumstances. The frustrations ballooned when they were unable to vent it out at the ballpark until years later. The scandal broke after the 2019 season. The 2020 season was played in a bubble with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, and 2021 had marked attendance limits. Houston hosted the interleague meeting in 2022, and it wasn't until the following year when Dodgers fans could, in their home stadium, display the fury of a thousand dented trash cans.
Animosities and theatrics aside, this rivalry defines so much of MLB history across the last 10 seasons. Since 2016, the Dodgers and Astros have combined for four World Series triumphs, four more pennants and nine 100-win campaigns. Surprise surprise, they both hit this weekend with sizable division leads and deep playoff aspirations.
Houston is in a tough spot from its recent injuries, though. Slugger Yordan Álvarez remains out with a right hand fracture. Budding star shortstop Jeremy Peña hurt his ribs last weekend and is now on the IL. Brendan Rodgers and Chas McCormick have also missed time.
Los Angeles is on a torrid stretch dating back to June 14, with 15 wins in their last 18 tries. The team has a fresh major injury of its own, though. Mainstay third baseman Max Muncy hobbled off the field Wednesday after a collision tag with White Sox baserunner Michael A. Taylor. He is now expected to be out six weeks.
Injuries suck, but there are enough main attractions to make this series a banger. Jose Altuve may be one of the last contemporaries with a shot at 3,000 hits. Clayton Kershaw just joined the 3,000 strikeout club. Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts and Will Smith are still among the best at their positions.
And Saturday's primetime slot on Fox gives us an incredible pitching matchup. The flame-throwing lefty Framber Valdez comes in with a 9–4 record and 2.72 ERA. He's matched by the one-of-a-kind Shohei Ohtani, who will be on the mound for the fourth time this season — and on his birthday. May we never stop marveling at the NL home run leader moonlighting with a triple-digit fastball.
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All-time fusion staff (min. 1 start with each franchise):
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