The Los Angeles Dodgers play the second game of their series with the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday, July 8. First pitch is set for 7:40 PM ET at American Family Field. Milwaukee won the opener 9-1 behind six strong innings from Freddy Peralta.
Los Angeles is 56-36 after Monday’s loss, while the Brewers improved to 51-40. Milwaukee has won six of the last nine head-to-head meetings. The Dodgers are 23-19 on the road. The Brewers have been tough at home with a 28-17 record in Milwaukee.
Dodgers Preview – Can the Rotation Get Back on Track?
The Dodgers will once again turn to Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who enters with an 8-6 record and a 2.51 ERA. Yamamoto was originally scheduled to pitch Monday but left after just two outs due to a sudden tweak in the rotation. He’s expected to pitch in full Tuesday. He has 109 strikeouts in 96.2 innings and a 1.06 WHIP.
Los Angeles is scoring 5.45 runs per game while allowing 4.70. The Dodgers have been strong offensively all year, with a .246 average and .318 OBP. Shohei Ohtani leads the lineup with 30 home runs and a .278 average, though he went 0-for-4 in the last game. Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and Will Smith remain key parts of the offense, but Betts and Max Muncy are currently out with injuries.
The Dodgers’ pitching has been hit with major injuries. Starters Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, and Tony Gonsolin are all on the 60-day IL. The bullpen has also taken losses with Michael Kopech and Evan Phillips unavailable. The active bullpen includes Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia, and Lou Trivino. Over their last three games, the Dodgers’ bullpen has allowed 13 earned runs in 14.2 innings for a 7.98 ERA.
Brewers Preview – Balanced Pitching Keeps Rolling
Milwaukee will hand the ball to rookie Carlos Rodriguez or a bullpen opener. Freddy Peralta pitched Monday and picked up his ninth win. The Brewers’ pitching staff ranks fifth in MLB with a 3.73 team ERA. They are allowing just 4.00 runs per game and are backed by a bullpen that leads the league with a 2.57 ERA over 245.1 innings.
Milwaukee’s relief staff is deep and rested. Abner Uribe, Trevor Megill, Grant Anderson, and Aaron Ashby are among the key arms. Uribe has a 2.09 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 43 innings. The Brewers’ bullpen allowed only 3 earned runs over its last 8 innings, giving them an ERA of 3.38 in that span. Their 1.05 WHIP ranks among the best in baseball.
On offense, Milwaukee is scoring 4.71 runs per game and hitting .236 as a team. They’ve gotten key production from William Contreras and Christian Yelich. The lineup is also missing Rhys Hoskins and Garrett Mitchell due to injury. Despite that, the Brewers are 7-3 over their last 10 and just swept the Marlins. They’ve been profitable at home and continue to play tight, low-scoring games with a 37-51 over/under record.
Pitching Matchup – Yamamoto vs Brewers
Yamamoto has been one of the best pitchers in the league this year. He has a 5.2-inning average in his last five starts with a 1.60 ERA and 4.8 strikeouts per outing. His last full start came on July 2 when he allowed four runs over six innings against the White Sox. His WHIP remains low at 1.06 and opponents are hitting just .224 against him.
The Brewers have never faced Yamamoto in a full start. His early exit Monday gave Milwaukee a look at the Dodgers’ bullpen, which could help them if they get to Yamamoto early again. The Brewers average 1.1 home runs per game and strike out at a moderate 8.5 K/game rate, so Yamamoto will need to be efficient.
Injuries and Lineup News
Los Angeles is still missing several arms and key bats. Muncy, Betts, Michael Kopech, and Blake Treinen are all out. Teoscar Hernandez is day-to-day with a foot issue. Milwaukee is also shorthanded. Hoskins is on the IL, along with Mitchell, Nestor Cortes, and Robert Gasser.
With limited depth, both teams will rely heavily on their starters and the top of the lineup. For the Dodgers, Ohtani, Freeman, and Smith must carry the offense. For Milwaukee, look for Contreras, Yelich, and Adames to set the tone at the plate.
Betting Prediction
The Dodgers are -113 favorites, and the total is 8.5. Los Angeles has the better offense and ace-level starter, but their bullpen has been unreliable. The Brewers are trending up with elite bullpen numbers, consistent home play, and strong recent form. They’ve won 7 of their last 10 and handled the Dodgers easily on Monday.
If Yamamoto pitches deep into the game, the Dodgers have the edge. If he exits early again, the Brewers could take advantage against the bullpen. With Peralta now off the mound, expect some regression, but the bullpen edge and home crowd give Milwaukee value. This game sets up well for another tight, low-scoring result.
Pick: Brewers +104
