Where can I stream the Dodgers game tonight to see Roki Sasaki face the Diamondbacks?
Is the Dodgers’ lead safe? With a 7-game skid and the season tiebreaker on the line, tonight’s Chase Field clash is a must-watch. Here’s how to stream it live.
Key Takeaways
What: The Dodgers face the Diamondbacks in a high-stakes NL West matchup at Chase Field.
Why: Los Angeles’ seven-game losing streak makes this series the decider for the critical season tiebreaker.
How: Watch Saturday at 8:10 p.m. ET on SportsNet LA, Dbacks.TV, or stream via Fubo.
The Los Angeles Dodgers arrived in Phoenix with a 7.5-game lead in the NL West, a margin most teams would consider a comfortable safety net. However, that number is currently a mathematical mirage. After Friday’s 4-3 walk-off loss—the team’s seventh straight defeat—manager Dave Roberts is facing a strategic paralysis that could fundamentally shift the division race.
The Bullpen Paralysis and the Tiebreaker Trap
While standard analysis suggests the Dodgers just need to “wait out” their slump, the reality is more volatile. The team is currently 10-16 since July 5, and the primary engine of this collapse is closer Edwin Diaz. Since returning from the injured list on July 29, Diaz has posted a staggering 11.00 ERA over 11 outings. Friday night’s collapse, courtesy of a hanging slider that rookie Ryan Waldschmidt drove into the seats, highlighted a deeper issue: Dave Roberts admits he has no clear-cut alternative for the ninth inning because the rest of the bullpen is also struggling.
The counter-intuitive reality here is that the Dodgers’ lead is much narrower than it looks on paper. Entering Saturday, the Dodgers and Diamondbacks have split their first 10 games of the season. Because of MLB’s balanced schedule and tiebreaker rules, the winner of this specific series secures the season tiebreaker. If the Dodgers lose this series, they effectively lose an “extra” game in the standings, making their 7.5-game cushion functionally smaller and giving Arizona a direct path to the division title should they pull within striking distance by September.
The Pitching Divide: Sasaki vs. Kelly
Saturday’s matchup at Chase Field offers the Dodgers a rare statistical advantage to stop the bleeding. Roki Sasaki takes the mound for Los Angeles, bringing a dominant 1.50 ERA and 21 strikeouts over 18 innings since the All-Star break. While his season ERA sits at 4.64, his recent command of his splitter and increased fastball velocity suggests he is finally hitting his stride.
Conversely, the Diamondbacks counter with veteran Merrill Kelly. While Kelly has historically been a stabilizer for Arizona, he is currently struggling with a 5.04 season ERA and a 1.487 WHIP. He was hit hard in his first August start, surrendering five runs against the Cleveland Guardians. For a Dodgers lineup that features Shohei Ohtani and a returning Freddie Freeman, Kelly represents a favorable matchup to break the skid.
A Fragile Roster and the MVP Race
The Dodgers’ current “funk” is inseparable from their staggering injury list. The team has 13 pitchers currently on the Injured List, including high-profile starters like Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, and Gavin Stone. This lack of depth has forced the bullpen into high-leverage situations they aren’t equipped to handle.
Despite the team’s struggles, the individual star power remains the primary reason Los Angeles stays afloat:
- Shohei Ohtani: Continues his NL MVP pursuit with a .954 OPS and 26 home runs, ranking second in MLB for total production.
- Freddie Freeman: Returned to the lineup Friday after a wrist injury scare, maintaining a .310 batting average.
- Arizona’s Duo: Corbin Carroll (16 HR) and Ketel Marte (19 HR) have kept the Diamondbacks steady, going 6-4 in their last 10 games to keep the pressure on Los Angeles.
Game Logistics: How to Watch
The second game of this pivotal divisional series begins Saturday evening.
- Date: Saturday, August 8, 2026
- First Pitch: 8:10 p.m. ET
- Location: Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona
- Television: SportsNet LA (Dodgers) and DBACKS.TV (Diamondbacks)
- Streaming: MLB.TV via Fubo
- Radio: AM570 (English) and KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)
This matchup is no longer about a “slumping” powerhouse; it is a battle for the tiebreaker that will likely define the NL West’s final standings.