Spring Training Preview: Shohei Ohtani & Yoshinobu Yamamoto Playing First Game Together; Max Muncy, Austin Barnes In Dodgers Lineup

The Los Angeles Dodgers had their four-game winning streak snapped with a shutout loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday and look to bounce back in their final Cactus League matchup against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch.

The Dodgers earned a 9-6 win in their only other Spring Training game against the White Sox last month. L.A. will serve as the designated road team on Wednesday.

The Dodgers lineup features several regulars, including Shohei Ohtani, who is playing in back-to-back games for the first time this spring. The two-way superstar went hitless in his first game against the Angels since leaving the team as a free agent during the offseason.

Ohtani is hitting a robust .500/.583/1.000 with one triple, one home run and five RBI over four Cactus League games so far and remains on track to be in the Dodgers lineup for the Seoul Series later this month.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto is also making his second start of the spring on Wednesday. The right-hander had a memorable Cactus League debut against the Texas Rangers as he faced the minimum over two innings while striking out three and giving up just one hit.

There were concerns that Yamamoto may have been tipping his pitches, but he and the Dodgers are not worried it will not become a persistent issue.

Both Yamamoto and Ohtani will see extended work against the White Sox as they continue to build up for the Seoul Series. “Yoshinobu is going to go three or four innings, depending on pitch count,” manager Dave Roberts said.

“And for Shohei, it’s his first back-to-back, day game after a night game, so three at-bats and then he’ll be off on Thursday. I just think he’s going to keep building up and taking good at-bats.”

The White Sox counter with Michael Kopech, who is making his second start of the spring. He threw two scoreless innings in his 2024 Cactus League debut.

Austin Barnes is in the Dodgers lineup one day after getting scratched due to back tightness, and so too is Max Muncy despite being hit by a pitch in his left knee. Muncy has been hit by a pitch three times this spring but avoided injury each instance.

Joe Kelly, Ryan Brasier, T.J. McFarland, Dinelson Lamet and Gus Varland also are scheduled to pitch as well.

Dodgers lineup

2B: Mookie Betts
DH: Shohei Ohtani
1B: Freddie Freeman
LF: Chris Taylor
3B: Max Muncy
CF: James Outman
SS: Gavin Lux
C: Austin Barnes
RF: Andy Pages

White Sox lineup

LF: Andrew Benintendi
3B: Yoán Moncada
CF: Luis Robert Jr.
DH: Eloy Jiménez
1B: Andrew Vaughn
RF: Dominic Fletcher
SS: Paul DeJong
C: Max Stassi
2B: Nicky Lopez