Dodgers vs. Rangers Game 3: Sasaki vs. deGrom as LA Chases Sweep at Rainy Dodger Stadium
The Los Angeles Dodgers enter Sunday's series finale riding a wave of momentum, sitting one win away from completing a home sweep of the Texas Rangers. After a dominant 6-3 victory on Saturday night — powered by home runs from Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernández — the Dodgers have now plated 14 runs across the first two games of this series. The Rangers, meanwhile, arrive at Chavez Ravine needing a win just to salvage respectability before heading home.
The pitching matchup is the compelling storyline here: a struggling Roki Sasaki, still finding his footing in his first MLB season, squares off against a rejuvenated Jacob deGrom who is 4-1 over his last five starts. According to TotalProSports, the contrast between these two arms makes this one of the more intriguing Sunday afternoon matchups of the young 2026 season — regardless of the standings implications.
Add in a wet, rainy forecast at Dodger Stadium and a lineup reshuffled with key players sitting, and Game 3 has all the ingredients for something unexpected.
Game 2 Recap: Ohtani and Hernández Power Dodgers to 6-3 Win
Saturday night's game followed a familiar script for the Dodgers: early power, a starter who settled in after a rough beginning, and a Rangers offense that couldn't sustain any real pressure. Emmet Sheehan gave up a solo home run to Brandon Nimmo early but responded by pitching 6.0 solid innings — a bounce-back performance that kept the Dodgers' rotation picture from looking even more desperate than it already is.
The offensive story belonged to Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernández. Both went deep against Jack Leiter, who struggled badly in the first inning — surrendering four runs before he could find any rhythm. That kind of early damage is almost impossible to recover from against a Dodgers team that plays with a lead as well as anyone in baseball.
Leiter's outing was a microcosm of the Rangers' broader problem in this series: their starting pitching has given the Los Angeles lineup too much oxygen too early. When the Dodgers get ahead, they're relentless. The 14 runs they've scored over Games 1 and 2 are a testament to how locked in their offense has been, even with some key contributors resting on Sunday.
The Pitching Matchup: deGrom's Resurgence vs. Sasaki's Struggles
The most compelling storyline heading into Game 3 is the stark contrast between the two starters.
Jacob deGrom has quietly reminded everyone why, when healthy, he remains one of the most dangerous arms in the sport. Covers.com notes that deGrom notched a quality start in his most recent outing — 5.0 innings, six strikeouts, and just one home run allowed. The Rangers have won both of his starts this season, and Texas is 4-1 in his last five starts. That's not a coincidence. deGrom pitching deep into games changes how Texas can structure its bullpen, and it forces opponents to beat him rather than simply survive him.
Roki Sasaki is in a different situation entirely. The highly-touted right-hander has been inconsistent early in 2026, allowing seven earned runs across just 9.0 innings over two starts — a 7.00 ERA with a 1.56 WHIP that does not inspire confidence. Yahoo Sports reports that Sasaki ranks 165th out of 171 starters in Location+ (80) and has posted a 12.2% walk rate — a significant concern for a pitcher whose arsenal is predicated on precise location and movement, not raw overpowering velocity.
Part of what makes this matchup so significant is context: Sasaki is in this rotation partly because the Dodgers have been hit by a wave of starting pitcher injuries. He's not being coddled along as a bonus piece — he's a genuine necessity. That adds pressure to every outing, and pressure tends to expose the cracks in a young pitcher's mechanics before they've had time to close them.
The early-season struggles aren't necessarily alarming in isolation. Japanese pitchers transitioning to MLB often need a full year to calibrate their arsenal to the different ball, the hitter tendencies, and the physical demands of a full major league schedule. But facing a Rangers lineup that, despite its difficulties in this series, has real hitters capable of capitalizing on any command lapses — this is a genuine test.
Dodgers Lineup Shakeup: Key Absences and New Faces in the Order
Sunday's lineup at Dodger Stadium is notably different from what Los Angeles has deployed in the first two games. Per MSN Sports, Teoscar Hernández — who hit a home run the night before — is out of the starting lineup, as is catcher Will Smith. In their place, Alex Call and Dalton Rushing both start, with Andy Pages bumped up to the third spot in the batting order.
This kind of roster management is standard practice for a team that plays a grueling 162-game schedule, but it does raise legitimate questions about whether the Dodgers can sustain their offensive output against deGrom with a lineup missing two of its more productive contributors from Saturday night. Hernández in particular has been one of the hottest hitters in this series.
That said, the Dodgers' roster depth is precisely why they've been baseball's preeminent franchise over the past decade. Dalton Rushing's promotion to the big league roster speaks to the organization's ability to develop talent continuously, and Pages hitting third signals that manager Dave Roberts sees real potential for a productive day from the young outfielder.
The rainy conditions at Chavez Ravine could also factor in. Wet weather affects grip, movement on breaking balls, and the overall pace of play. Both pitchers — particularly Sasaki, whose slider and splitter rely on tight spin — could find themselves adjusting on the fly.
What a Sweep Would Mean for Both Teams
For the Dodgers, completing a home sweep of Texas would be a statement win. It would demonstrate that even with pitching depth compromised by injuries, this offense is capable of carrying the team through stretches where the rotation underperforms. It would also extend their strong early-season positioning in the NL West and affirm that Shohei Ohtani's presence in the lineup genuinely elevates everyone around him — opposing teams simply cannot afford to pitch around everyone.
For the Rangers, the implications cut deeper. Texas entered 2026 with legitimate playoff aspirations, built around deGrom's health and a lineup that showed flashes of brilliance last season. A three-game sweep at Dodger Stadium wouldn't end their season, but it would be an early signal that the gap between this Rangers club and the Dodgers — the defending World Series champions — is wider than the offseason optimism suggested.
The Rangers being 4-1 in deGrom's last five starts is genuinely encouraging context. If he gives them six or seven innings of quality work today, Texas has a real chance to avoid the sweep. But the bullpen would then need to hold against a Dodgers lineup that is relentless in late innings, and that's a tall ask on a day when both sides are managing their pitching resources carefully.
How to Watch Game 3: TV, Stream, and Radio
For fans looking to catch the action, Sports Illustrated has a full breakdown of the TV channel, live stream options, and radio coverage for Sunday's game. The matchup is scheduled for Dodger Stadium on April 12, 2026, with first pitch affected by the wet conditions at Chavez Ravine.
With the deGrom-Sasaki matchup serving as the main draw, this is the kind of Sunday afternoon game that rewards actually watching rather than following via box score — the early innings will tell the story of whether Sasaki has found his command or whether the Rangers can expose his walk rate and location struggles to get out to an early lead.
Analysis: What This Series Tells Us About Both Teams in 2026
The Rangers-Dodgers series has revealed something important about the current state of both franchises — and it's not entirely about wins and losses.
The Dodgers are demonstrably built to absorb adversity. Sasaki's early struggles, the injury-related rotation shuffles, the lineup resting key contributors on a series-clinching day — none of it seems to derail their ability to score runs and compete. That's organizational depth at work, and it's why Los Angeles remains the standard-bearer in the National League regardless of what their pitching situation looks like at any given moment.
The Rangers' situation is more nuanced. Jack Leiter's poor outing in Game 2 is not necessarily a harbinger — he's a young pitcher with real stuff who had a bad day. What's more concerning for Texas is the pattern: they have been unable to match the Dodgers' offense consistently, and when their starters struggle, the deficit compounds quickly. A team built to contend needs its top starter (deGrom) to bail it out of tough spots regularly, which is a fragile construction even when deGrom is healthy.
The wet conditions in Game 3 are genuinely relevant beyond atmosphere. Sasaki's splitter, which is his most devastating out pitch when located properly, becomes harder to control in rain. If he walks early batters on a slick mound, he could find himself in deep counts against a patient Rangers lineup. Conversely, deGrom's ability to tunnel his pitches relies on consistent mechanics — conditions that disrupt routine can affect veteran starters just as much as younger arms.
Whoever manages those conditions better on Sunday likely wins the game. This isn't a situation where the better team necessarily prevails; it's one where adaptability matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is starting for the Dodgers in Game 3 against the Rangers?
Roki Sasaki starts Game 3 for Los Angeles. The right-hander has struggled to begin the 2026 season, posting a 7.00 ERA with a 1.56 WHIP across 9.0 innings over two starts. His walk rate (12.2%) and poor Location+ ranking (165th out of 171 starters) are the primary concerns heading into Sunday's start against Texas.
Who is starting for the Rangers in Game 3?
Jacob deGrom takes the ball for Texas. Despite his team's struggles in this series, deGrom has been one of the more reliable starters in the American League early in 2026. He posted a quality start in his last outing — 5.0 innings, six strikeouts, one home run — and the Rangers are 4-1 in his last five starts.
Have the Dodgers already won the series?
Yes — Los Angeles leads the series 2-0 after winning Game 1 and Game 2. The Dodgers won Game 2 by a score of 6-3, with Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernández hitting home runs and Emmet Sheehan pitching 6.0 innings. A win on Sunday would complete a three-game sweep of Texas at Dodger Stadium.
Why is Teoscar Hernández not starting Game 3?
According to reports, Hernández — who homered in Game 2 — is being rested for Sunday's series finale. Will Smith is also sitting out. The Dodgers have inserted Alex Call and Dalton Rushing into the lineup in their place, with Andy Pages moving up to bat third. This is routine roster management for a team playing a 162-game season, though it does remove two productive bats from a lineup that has scored 14 runs in this series.
What is the weather like for Game 3 at Dodger Stadium?
Sunday's game is being played in wet and rainy conditions at Chavez Ravine. The weather could affect both starters — particularly Sasaki, whose splitter and slider depend on precise grip and release — and may influence in-game decisions around pitch selection, bullpen management, and potentially game timing.
Conclusion
Sunday's finale is the kind of game that defies simple prediction. The Dodgers have been the clearly superior team through two games, and their structural advantages — elite lineup depth, strong bullpen, high-run-environment home park — remain intact even with Hernández and Smith sitting. But deGrom is a genuine equalizer, and Sasaki's early-season vulnerabilities mean the Rangers have a realistic path to avoiding the sweep.
The broader takeaway from this three-game series is that the 2026 Dodgers are already looking like the team everyone expected: deep, dangerous, and capable of winning even when their roster isn't operating at full strength. For the Rangers, the challenge is clear — find a way to compete with a franchise that has institutionalized winning in ways that transcend any individual player or matchup.
Watch the first two innings of Sasaki's outing closely. If he can throw early strikes, get ahead in counts, and keep the Rangers off-balance with his arsenal despite the wet conditions, the Dodgers will be in good position to close out the sweep. If Texas can jump on him early — as Jack Leiter was jumped on Saturday — deGrom and the Rangers bullpen might just be enough to send this series home with a different story to tell.
For fans tracking the full landscape of early-season sport, Rory McIlroy's Masters performance has also been dominating Sunday sports conversation — making April 12, 2026 a particularly loaded day on the calendar for fans following multiple sports simultaneously.
