Los Angeles Dodgers (70-48) versus Kansas City Royals (49-70)
LOS ANGELES, CA—The Los Angeles Dodgers are heading home, and they desperately need it to feel like a reset. After a brutal seven-game losing streak and a 1-5 road trip, the Dodgers return to Dodger Stadium for a seven-game homestand that comes at a critical point in the season.
Los Angeles is in the midst of its worst stretch of baseball in 2026, and after watching its lead in the National League tighten, the pressure is mounting for a team that entered the season with World Series expectations.
There is, however, plenty of reason for optimism. The Dodgers will welcome newly acquired two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal for his first start at Dodger Stadium on Monday, while Blake Snell is set to make his long-awaited return from the injured list Tuesday against the Royals.
With Tyler Glasnow, Gavin Stone and Bobby Miller also working their way back, Los Angeles is finally beginning to see some reinforcements arrive at the perfect time. But none of that will matter if the offense doesn’t wake up. The Dodgers’ pitching staff can only do so much, and a lineup that has struggled to consistently produce has played a major role in their recent slide.
Standing in their way is a Kansas City Royals team that has struggled mightily in its own right. Kansas City enters the series with a disappointing 49-70 record, sitting in last place in the AL Central after going 3-7 over its last 10 games.
It’s a far cry from the team that reached the ALDS just two seasons ago, making this season a particularly frustrating one for a Royals club that appeared to be trending in the right direction. Now, both teams enter this seven-game stretch looking for answers—but for the Dodgers, the urgency is considerably greater.
Pitching Probables
Game One: Tarik Skubal (LHP) (7-6, 2.81 ERA) vs Noah Cameron (LHP) (6-8, 4.37 ERA)
Game Two: Blake Snell (LHP) (0-1, 12.00 ERA) vs Michael Wacha (5-8, 3.44 ERA)
Game Three: TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs Daniel Lynch (LHP) (4-3, 2.45 ERA)
Game Times
Game One: 7:10 PM PT, SportsNet LA, Royal.TV
Game Two: 7:10 PM PT, SportsNet LA, Royal.TV
Game Three: 7:10 PM PT, SportsNet LA, Royal.TV
Who’s In & Who’s Out
The Dodgers are beginning to see some important reinforcements come into focus, with Blake Snell set to make his long-awaited return to the rotation against the Royals on August 11th. Snell has been sidelined since May 15th with loose bodies in his left elbow and was transferred to the 60-day IL on May 29th.
Although he did not make it through the fifth inning in his most recent rehab start, the Dodgers are activating him to start Tuesday’s game, giving Los Angeles another major piece for its rotation as it looks to get healthy for the stretch run.
Snell isn’t the only starting pitcher nearing a return. Tyler Glasnow, who has been out since May 8th with lower back spasms, made his first rehab start with Single-A Ontario on August 4th, throwing two innings and 16 pitches before adding additional work in the bullpen.
He was scheduled for his next rehab outing on August 9th and remains on track for a potential August return. Gavin Stone also began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on August 6th after dealing with right shoulder inflammation since March 22nd, while Bobby Miller began his own rehab assignment with Oklahoma City on August 5th. Both right-handers could potentially return in September.
The Dodgers also have several bullpen arms working their way back. Blake Treinen, who has been out since June 20th with right elbow inflammation, threw an inning of live batting practice August 1st and could soon begin a rehab assignment.
Ben Casparius began a rehab assignment with Oklahoma City July 25th after dealing with right shoulder inflammation and is expected to use close to the maximum 30-day rehab window to build back up. Brock Stewart, meanwhile, landed on the 15-day IL July 31st with right shoulder tendinitis and was expected to be shut down from throwing for several days before potentially resuming later in the week of August 3rd.
Will Klein has also been sidelined since August 1st with right elbow discomfort after allowing runs in six consecutive appearances, with manager Dave Roberts suggesting it could be an “arm thing.”
Los Angeles’ position-player injury situation remains worth monitoring as well. Shohei Ohtani, who is dealing with left knee inflammation and right biceps discomfort, resumed throwing August 8th by playing catch at Chase Field. Ohtani remains on track for a potential return to the mound in September, although the Dodgers will continue to monitor his progression.
Dalton Rushing was placed on the 10-day IL August 3rd after imaging revealed a slight tear in his right UCL. His ability to catch again this season is in question, although the Dodgers hope to bring him back as a hitter. Will Smith, meanwhile, continues working his way back from neck inflammation. The veteran catcher is pain-free and has resumed baseball activities, including a hitting progression, with a potential September return.
Newly acquired left-hander Kris Bubic is also working his way back from left shoulder soreness. Bubic began a bullpen progression August 2nd, one day before being traded to Los Angeles, and is hoping to begin a rehab assignment around early September.
Brusdar Graterol remains sidelined while recovering from right shoulder and lower back surgeries, with no firm timetable for his return. Jake Cousins, meanwhile, continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery and remains a potential second-half option after undergoing the procedure in June 2025.
With Snell officially returning August 11th, Glasnow, Stone and Miller beginning or progressing through rehab assignments, and several bullpen arms nearing their own returns, the Dodgers are finally beginning to see the reinforcements that could reshape their pitching staff heading into the final weeks of the regular season.
Day-to-day (00):
10-day IL (1): Dalton Rushing
15-day IL (4): Blake Treinen, Seth Halvorsen, Brock Stewart, Will Klein
60-day IL (9): Bobby Miller, Gavin Stone, Jake Cousins, Brusdar Graterol, Ben Casaprius, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Will Smith, Kris Bubic
The Royals will enter their upcoming series against the Dodgers with several key players on the injured list, including two important position players who could potentially return later this month.
Third baseman Maikel Garcia has been sidelined since June 23rd with a left hand muscle strain. After receiving a cortisone injection, Garcia resumed hitting August 7th and could return to a rehab assignment during the week of August 10th if he continues progressing without a setback.
First baseman Vinnie Pasquantino, meanwhile, has been out since July 29th with right wrist soreness. Pasquantino took full batting practice August 3rd and could also begin a rehab assignment during the week of August 10th, with a mid-to-late August return currently expected.
Kansas City has also dealt with significant losses on the pitching side. Right-hander Luinder Avila was placed on the injured list August 2nd and transferred to the 60-day IL August 6th after undergoing Tommy John surgery August 5th.
Right-hander Stephen Kolek, who has been sidelined since July 19th with a right flexor strain, also underwent Tommy John surgery August 5th after being transferred to the 60-day IL July 22nd.
Both pitchers are expected to miss the remainder of the 2026 season and are targeting returns in 2027. Right-hander Cole Ragans is another major absence after undergoing UCL repair surgery on his left elbow on July 1st. Ragans, who was transferred to the 60-day IL June 17th, is facing a 10-to-12-month recovery timeline and is not expected back until around the middle of the 2027 season.
The Royals could potentially get some bullpen help back later this month. Right-hander Beck Way has been on the 15-day IL since July 28th with low back spasms and tightness and was scheduled to begin throwing again on August 5th.
Right-hander Nick Mears, who has been sidelined since May 29th with a right shoulder impingement and was transferred to the 60-day IL July 14th, resumed his throwing progression July 27th and is expected to begin a mound progression during the week of August 10th.
His return remains targeted for August. Right-hander Carlos Estévez, meanwhile, has been out since April 1st with a right rotator cuff strain and was transferred to the 60-day IL June 15th. He began a throwing program in mid-July and started his mound progression August 7th, but is not expected to return until September.
Right-hander Connor Seabold has been sidelined since July 1st with a right lat strain and was transferred to the 60-day IL August 3rd. He continues his rehabilitation program in Arizona and remains a potential August return.
Right-hander James McArthur has been out since March 25th with right elbow inflammation and underwent another elbow surgery May 22nd after continuing to experience soreness and inflammation. There is currently no definitive timetable for his return, with his recovery determining when he can resume baseball activities.
Kansas City is also without second baseman Jonathan India and right-hander Alec Marsh for the remainder of the season. India underwent left labral repair surgery April 28th after suffering a left shoulder subluxation and is expected to return in 2027.
Marsh, who has been on the 60-day IL since February 12th, underwent right labral surgery in October after missing the 2025 season with shoulder issues. He has been rehabbing in Surprise, Arizona, but is unlikely to return this season and is also expected back in 2027.
10-day IL (2): Maikel Garcia, Vinnie Pasquantino
15-day IL (1): Beck Way
60-day IL (9): Alec Marsh, Carlos Estévez, Jonathan India, James McArthur, Nick Mears, Connor Seabold, Cole Ragans, Stephen Kolek, Luinder Avila