Diamondbacks, Dodgers Set for Opening Day Pitching Duel

LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — The 2026 Major League Baseball season opens Thursday with a marquee National League West pitching matchup as the Arizona Diamondbacks visit the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.

Right-hander Zac Gallen is slated to start for the Diamondbacks against Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the opener for both clubs. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. PDT.

Both teams enter with 0-0 records, looking to establish an early tone in the division. The game marks the official debut of the 2026 campaign after a long offseason.

The Dodgers last took the field in a meaningful contest on Nov. 1, 2025, securing a 5-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. Arizona’s most recent game was a 12-4 loss at the San Diego Padres on Sept. 28, 2025.

The opener features a compelling duel between aces. Gallen, a consistent Cy Young Award contender, will look to set a strong tone for Arizona’s rotation. Yamamoto, entering his second MLB season after a storied career in Japan, aims to anchor a star-studded Dodgers staff.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, Thursday’s contest projects to be a tightly played, low-scoring affair, with a predicted final score of 2-1 in favor of the Diamondbacks.

The game begins a three-game opening series between the division rivals. The teams will meet again Friday and Saturday in Los Angeles before Arizona returns home to face the Detroit Tigers on Monday. Following the homestand, the Dodgers embark on a six-game road trip to Washington and Toronto starting next Friday.

Weather for the opener in Los Angeles is forecast to be sunny with temperatures near 70 degrees Fahrenheit.