Diamondbacks vs Dodgers: MLB Highlights – March 27, 2026

Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-2 in the opening game of the 2026 Major League Baseball season on Thursday, March 26th, at Dodger Stadium, according to reports from multiple sources.

The Diamondbacks held a 2-0 lead through four innings, fueled by a two-run home run from Geraldo Perdomo off Dodgers’ MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, as reported by Conectaarizona.com. Arizona’s starting pitcher, Zac Gallen, had initially stymied the Dodgers’ offense, allowing only a single to Shohei Ohtani in the first inning.

However, the Dodgers responded with a decisive fifth inning, ultimately taking control of the game. The Diamondbacks’ bullpen struggled to contain the Dodgers’ offense, leading to the widening score. Will Smith of the Dodgers contributed a two-run home run in the 8-2 victory, as noted by Fox Sports.

The Dodgers’ Emmet Sheehan (1-0) earned the win, while the Diamondbacks’ Ryne Nelson (0-1) took the loss. Sheehan’s ERA currently stands at 5.91, while Nelson’s is 3.18, according to ESPN data.

Paul Sewald is expected to be the Diamondbacks’ primary closer, according to Arizona manager Torey Lovullo, as reported by Fox Sports. Ketel Marte is starting at second base for the Diamondbacks and batting leadoff.

Several players are currently on the injured list for both teams. For the Diamondbacks, Pavin Smith is day-to-day, Adrian Del Castillo is on a 10-day IL, Merrill Kelly is on a 15-day IL, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Is on a 10-day IL, and Tyler Locklear is on a 10-day IL. The Dodgers have Brock Stewart, Landon Knack, and Brusdar Graterol on 15-day ILs, Gavin Stone on a 15-day IL, and Enrique Hernandez on a 60-day IL.

The series continues Friday, March 27th, with Ryan Nelson scheduled to pitch for Arizona against Emmet Sheehan for the Dodgers, as reported by Conectaarizona.com. The game is scheduled to start at 7:10 PM local time.

As of Friday, March 27th, the Dodgers are favored to win the series, with odds of -252, while the Diamondbacks are at +203, according to ESPN analytics. The total for the game is set at 8.5.