Dodgers vs Orioles Series Preview: Injuries, Probables & Matchups
The Dodgers host the Orioles for a three-game series. Preview the pitching matchups, injury updates, records, and key storylines.
Los Angeles Dodgers (48-27) versus Baltimore Orioles (35-41)
LOS ANGELES, CA—Fresh off a three-game sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays, the Los Angeles Dodgers return home this weekend for an intriguing interleague matchup against the Baltimore Orioles.
While the two clubs enter the series headed in different directions in the standings, both teams have played quality baseball recently, setting the stage for a competitive three-game set at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers enter the weekend with the best record in Major League Baseball at 48-27 and have won seven of their last ten games. Despite dealing with a lengthy list of injuries throughout the season, Los Angeles continues to find ways to win behind strong pitching, a deep lineup, and MVP-caliber performances from Shohei Ohtani and several other stars. The Dodgers are also coming off a dominant homestand that included a sweep of the Rays and have gone 13-7 over their last 20 games.
Baltimore, meanwhile, arrives in Los Angeles with a 31-34 record and sits in third place in the American League East. While the Orioles have struggled to stay above .500 this season, they have shown signs of life lately, posting a 4-6 record over their last ten games as they continue to battle their way back into the postseason picture.
These clubs last met during a three-game series at Camden Yards from September 5th-7th, 2025. The Orioles took the first two games by scores of 2-1 and 4-3 before the Dodgers salvaged the finale with a 5-2 victory, giving Baltimore a 2-1 series win. With both organizations harboring postseason aspirations and plenty of star power on display, this weekend’s matchup should provide one of the more entertaining interleague series of June.
Pitching Probables
Game One: Roki Sasaki (3-4, 4.76 ERA) vs Kyle Gibson (1-2, 5.91 ERA)
Game Two: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (7-4, 2.52 ERA) vs Tyler Rogers (LHP) (3-7, 5.86 ERA)
Game Three: Emmet Sheehan (3-4, 4.76 ERA) vs Brandon Young (5-2, 3.18 ERA)
Game Times
Game One: 7:10 PM PT, SportsNet LA, MASN
Game Two: 7:10 PM PT, SportsNet LA, MASN
Game Three: 1:10 PM PT, SportsNet LA, MASN
Who’s In & Who’s Out
For the Dodgers, the most notable injury remains catcher Will Smith, who has been sidelined since June 8th with a stiff neck. Smith completed a full workout on June 16th, but the club does not expect to activate him immediately upon becoming eligible. The Dodgers are hopeful he can return before the end of June.
Outfielder Teoscar Hernández is also nearing a return from a left hamstring strain that has kept him out since May 29th. Hernández is scheduled to participate in a simulated game on June 18th and could begin a rehab assignment during the week of June 22nd, putting him on track for a late-June activation.
The bullpen could receive reinforcements soon as Brock Stewart continues his recovery from a left foot bone spur. Stewart began a rehab assignment with Single-A Ontario and pitched on June 12th and June 14th.
Once he successfully pitches on back-to-back days, he should be close to rejoining the major league roster. Veteran reliever Edwin Díaz is also progressing from surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow.
Díaz continues his throwing progression and is expected to throw a bullpen session during the week of June 15th, with a possible return sometime in July.
The rotation remains heavily impacted by injuries. Tyler Glasnow has been sidelined since May 8th with lower back spasms and was transferred to the 60-day injured list on June 6th.
According to the latest update, Glasnow has made little progress and is not currently throwing, making a mid-July return the earliest realistic target. Blake Snell is also working his way back after undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow. Snell began a throwing program on June 5th, roughly two-and-a-half weeks after surgery, and is targeting a return no earlier than mid-July.
Utilityman Kiké Hernández remains out with a significant left oblique strain suffered on May 27th. While he has resumed some baseball activities, he remains in the early stages of his recovery and is not expected back until late July or early August.
Meanwhile, reliever Evan Phillips continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery and began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on June 4th. The Dodgers are expected to use the full 30-day rehab window before activating him, placing his return sometime in July.
Several Dodgers pitchers remain on the long-term injured list. Gavin Stone is working through a throwing program at the club’s Arizona complex while recovering from right shoulder inflammation, but he has encountered setbacks while attempting to ramp up his workload.
Ben Casparius and Landon Knack are also rehabbing in Arizona from shoulder inflammation and a right intercostal strain, respectively, and neither is expected to contribute until later in the season. Bobby Miller continues to rehab from right shoulder soreness and remains without a firm return timetable.
Brusdar Graterol’s recovery has become more complicated after the hard-throwing reliever revealed he underwent a surgical procedure on his back in addition to recovering from right shoulder surgery.
The Dodgers have not provided a timetable for his return. Jake Cousins, meanwhile, is working back from Tommy John surgery performed in June 2025 and could emerge as a bullpen option during the second half of the 2026 season if his rehab continues on schedule.
Day-to-day (00):
10-day IL (3): Kike Hernández, Teoscar Hernández. Will Smith
15-day IL (1): Brock Stewart
60-day IL (10): Evan Phillips, Bobby Miller, Gavin Stone, Jake Cousins, Edwin Díaz, Landon Knack, Brusdar Graterol, Ben Casaprius, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow
For the Baltimore Orioles, the biggest injury concern entering the series is catcher Adley Rutschman. The All-Star backstop was struck in the left ear by a throw while running to first base during the Orioles’ June 18th game and was removed as a precaution. Manager Craig Albernaz said Rutschman will undergo further evaluation, and he is currently considered day-to-day.
Several Orioles players are progressing toward returns from the injured list. Outfielder Dylan Beavers continues to recover from a right oblique strain and was tentatively scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Chesapeake on June 18th, putting him on track for a potential early July return.
Right-hander Dean Kremer is nearing a comeback from a right quad strain after throwing his second live batting practice session on June 16th and could begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk this week.
Left-hander Cade Povich is also making progress in his recovery from left elbow inflammation, having thrown a live batting practice session on June 16th, and is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Chesapeake in the coming days.
The Orioles remain without veteran starter Chris Bassitt, who landed on the injured list with lower back tightness on June 5th. Bassitt received a facet injection on June 12th and has resumed a throwing program, though the club has not provided a timetable for his return.
Right-hander Yaramil Hiraldo is continuing his recovery from right shoulder inflammation and is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session on June 19th as part of his rehab progression.
First baseman Ryan Mountcastle remains sidelined with a fractured fourth metatarsal in his left foot, suffered on April 11th after an awkward slide against the Giants.
While he has resumed running activities in Sarasota as of June 13th, his return is not expected until sometime in July or later. Right-hander Colin Selby continues to deal with right shoulder inflammation and has no clear timetable after being evaluated for recurring symptoms on May 19th.
Two key Orioles players have already been ruled out for the remainder of the 2026 season. Infielder Jordan Westburg underwent Tommy John surgery on May 13th and is expected to miss the rest of this year, with a return projected during the early portion of the 2027 season.
Likewise, right-hander Zach Eflin underwent Tommy John surgery on April 8th after experiencing elbow discomfort in his season debut on March 31st and is also expected to remain out until 2027.
Baltimore’s bullpen is also missing star closer Félix Bautista, who continues to recover from surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff and labrum suffered on August 19th, 2025. Bautista resumed throwing on March 3rd and is not expected back until September at the earliest, though a 2027 return remains possible depending on his recovery timeline.
Day-to-day (00):
10-day IL (1): Dylan Beavers
15-day IL (2): Cade Povich, Chris Bassitt
60-day IL (7): Félix Bautista, Colin Selby, Yaramil Hiraldo, Zach Eflin, Ryan Mountcastle, Dean Kremer, Jordan Westburg
Thanks Cody, Tommy is active correct? You have him on the 10 day IL. I love these previews.
I appreciate these previews for each series. A great information summary. Thank you.