Three Keys to Pirates Winning Dodgers Series
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PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates are building some momentum after a strong showing on their homestand, but face one of their best opponents the rest of 2026.
The Pirates battle the two-time reigning World Series Champions in the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium for a weekend series, Aug. 21-23, the start of a nine-game road trip to end the month.
It's another great season for the Dodgers, who are 77-51 and in clear lead of the National League West Division and primed for another long postseason run.
The Pirates come in as the clear underdog, but that doesn't mean they can't come out as winners of this series.
Get After Left-Handed Pitching
The Pirates have struggled against left-handed pitching this season, posing a clear weakness in their lineup that has hurt them throughout.
Pittsburgh faces two left-handed starting pitchers in newly acquired Tarik Skubal in the second game on Aug. 22 and then Blake Snell in the series finale on Aug. 23.
Skubal is the two-time American League Cy Young Award winner, doing so with the Detroit Tigers, who traded him to the Dodgers at the deadline.
He has a 0-2 record in three starts with the Dodgers, but is still one of the best pitchers in baseball and will give the Pirates problems.
Snell is also a two-time Cy Young Award winner (2018, 2023), and is in his 11th season, looking to help the Dodgers win their third straight World Series title.
Both pitchers have dealt with injuries this season, with Snell only starting three times and Skubal 19 times, with loose bodies in left elbow the diagnosis for both of them.
The Pirates are 12-27 against left-handed starting pitching this season and 4-10 since the All-Star break.
Pittsburgh did win twice against two Boston Red Sox left-handed starting pitchers and they got four runs off of Tigers southpaw Framber Valdez, forcing him out before the end of the sixth inning in the 8-5 loss on Aug. 17.
The Pirates showed an improved lineup this homestand and they'll need that especially against left-handed pitching in this series.
Starting Pitching Must Deliver for Pirates
The Pirates have gotten some better outings from their starting pitching as of late and they need it once again against the Dodgers.
Pittsburgh has two starting pitchers scheduled for this series, with Bubba Chandler taking the mound in the series opener on Aug. 21 and Jared Jones in the next game, with TBA for the series finale.
Chandler has been great since the All-Star break, with a 3-0 record in five starts, a 2.33 ERA over 27.0 innings pitched, 23 strikeouts to nine walks, a .206 BAA and a 1.07 WHIP.
Jones bounced back after his first two starts in August, where he posted a 14.04 ERA, and gave up just a run over five innings versus the Red Sox on Aug. 15, working out of a couple jams and showing faith in his stuff.
The Pirates will most likely go with a bullpen game in the series finale, but how they utilize Carmen Mlodzinski may play a big role in them winning or losing that contest.
Mlodzinski has lost all three starts he's made with a 14.04 ERA and the Pirates would be better off having him come in a bulk role than starting the game.
All three of these pitchers have a big challenge ahead of them and if they can bring their best, they'll give a now strong bullpen a great chance to win this series.
Keep the Power Show Going
The Pirates have been a much better offense in 2026 and it's a big reason why they are still in contention for the postseason, but particularly with their power.
Pittsburgh has hit 155 home runs this season, the ninth-most in baseball and sixth-most in the National League, with 84 home runs at PNC Park, a new single-season record.
The Pirates had four big home runs in their two wins over the Tigers, with a two-run home run from center fielder Oneil Cruz in the fifth inning to give them a 2-1 lead in the 4-1 victory.
Rafael Flores Jr. also spurred the comeback in the series finale, hitting a solo home run in both the seventh inning and the ninth inning, tying it, allowing second baseman Brandon Lowe to win it 4-3 on a walk-off home run.
That home run for Cruz was his first since returning from a left hand fracture that knocked him out for two months and was one of his more impressive home runs he's hit this season, showing off his vaunted exit velocity.
Flores also became the first player in Pirates' history to come off the bench and hit two home runs in the same game and it's five home runs in seven games for the rookie.
Lowe has been the Pirates' best and most reliable power hitter, with 27 home runs in 2026, and can come through in any moment.
The Pirates offense has some other players that can come through, in the likes of left fielder Bryan Reynolds, rookie right fielder Esmerlyn Valdez and first baseman Spencer Horwitz, who haven't gone deep in the month of August.
If Pittsburgh can get some home runs going, that will spur their offense and give them the best chance against a strong pitching staff in Los Angeles.
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Dominic writes for Pittsburgh Pirates On SI, Pittsburgh Panthers Pn SI and also, Pittsburgh Steelers On SI. A Pittsburgh native, Dominic grew up watching Pittsburgh Sports and wrote for The Pitt News as an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh, covering Pitt Athletics. He would write for Pittsburgh Sports Now after college and has years of experience covering sports across Pittsburgh.