The Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Dodgers meet for the second game of their series at Dodger Stadium on April 26, 2025, with both teams entering at very different stages of their early-season journeys. The Pirates, currently 10–15, continue to battle inconsistency, particularly when playing away from PNC Park, where offensive struggles and late-inning bullpen issues have kept them from building sustained momentum. Mitch Keller, the Pirates’ Opening Day starter, takes the ball Saturday carrying a 1–2 record and a 4.30 ERA, and he will need to bring his best against a Dodgers lineup that feasts on mistakes and punishes pitchers who fail to command the strike zone. Keller’s ability to generate ground balls and stay ahead of hitters will be crucial against a Los Angeles team that thrives on extended at-bats and explosive innings. Meanwhile, the Dodgers, now at 16–9, have looked every bit like the National League juggernaut they were projected to be, showcasing a devastating combination of offensive firepower, defensive sharpness, and pitching depth that has made them dominant at Dodger Stadium so far this season. Roki Sasaki, the young Japanese sensation, gets the nod for the Dodgers, and while he remains winless at 0–1, his 3.29 ERA reflects excellent command, elite strikeout ability, and the potential to dominate any lineup when his splitter is working. Offensively, Los Angeles continues to lean heavily on Shohei Ohtani, who is batting .288 and providing critical production in the middle of the lineup, alongside Teoscar Hernández, who leads the team with 17 RBIs and has become a reliable run producer in key spots.

Pittsburgh’s offense, led by the power of Oneil Cruz and the steady hitting of Isiah Kiner-Falefa, will need to find a way to scratch out early runs against Sasaki to avoid falling behind and being forced to chase the game, a situation that has repeatedly led to trouble for them on the road. Defensively, the Dodgers have been nearly flawless of late, flashing leather with routine brilliance and turning in key double plays that have helped support their pitching staff and keep opponents at bay. For the Pirates to pull off an upset, they must play clean defense, get a shutdown performance from Keller, and find a way to capitalize on any rare mistakes made by Sasaki or the Dodgers’ deep bullpen. Historically, recent matchups between these two teams have trended toward higher-scoring affairs, but with two quality starters on the mound and both managers likely emphasizing execution and fundamentals, Saturday’s game could turn into more of a strategic, lower-scoring battle where every baserunner matters. For Los Angeles, maintaining their home dominance and continuing to flex their all-around superiority is the goal, while Pittsburgh simply needs a confidence boost, the kind of galvanizing win that can help reset the tone of a difficult road trip. With all the talent on display and two very different narratives unfolding, Saturday’s contest promises to be an exciting and revealing chapter for both the Dodgers and the Pirates as April nears its close.