Will Klein opens Dodgers vs Yankees Game 2 bullpen tilt
Will Klein will open Game 2 of Sunday’s Dodgers-Yankees doubleheader at Yankee Stadium as a short-burst opener, with Ryan Yarbrough filling the same role for New York in a bullpen game after Los Angeles won the afternoon contest 8-2. First pitch is set for 7:20 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
Key Takeaways
- Will Klein opens for the Dodgers; Ryan Yarbrough opens for the Yankees in Game 2’s dual bullpen plan.
- Los Angeles already took the afternoon game 8-2 behind Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s complete game and has claimed the series.
- Yankees rookie Elmer Rodríguez, the doubleheader’s 27th man, is expected to handle multiple innings after Yarbrough.
- Klein owns a 2.41 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 37.1 innings across 32 appearances this season.
- Watch on NBC or stream on Peacock from Yankee Stadium at 7:20 p.m. ET.
Who is pitching Game 2 for the Dodgers and Yankees?
According to reporting on the matchup, Will Klein will open for Los Angeles, a role he has filled twice earlier this year. Manager Dave Roberts also said Kyle Hurt will be available as the Dodgers’ 27th man in the bullpen game.
New York will start Ryan Yarbrough as an opener of sorts. The left-hander has not worked more than three innings in any appearance this season, so an abbreviated outing is expected before the Yankees turn to relief help.
Elmer Rodríguez was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre as New York’s 27th man and figures to work multiple innings. Kervin Castro is also up after Jake Bird’s demotion. The Dodgers had not announced a bulk reliever at the time of the preview coverage.
Why does Will Klein matter in this bullpen game?
Klein is a hard-throwing right-hander who leans on a four-seam fastball more than half the time, with that pitch averaging 98 mph. Preview analysis pegged him in the 94th percentile or better in barrel rate and ground-ball rate, pairing high velocity with damage limitation.
In 32 appearances, he has posted a 2.41 ERA (174 ERA+), a 2.94 FIP, and 43 strikeouts in 37.1 innings. He was also a World Series folk hero for Los Angeles last year, throwing four scoreless innings for the win on short rest in the 18-inning Game 3 marathon.
The Dodgers bullpen is fully rested after Yamamoto’s complete game in the afternoon. That context gives Klein license for a short, high-intensity outing against a Yankees club that has scored just three runs across the first 18 innings of the series.
What else should fans know before first pitch?
Rodríguez will be making just his fifth MLB appearance and his first relief outing at any level since 2025. He is 0-2 with a 4.76 ERA, a 1.76 WHIP, and more walks (11) than strikeouts (10) over 17 big-league innings. Command remains the central concern.
New York is shuffling its lineup after managing only four hits against Yamamoto: Paul Goldschmidt at first, Ben Rice at DH, Jasson Domínguez in right, José Caballero at third, and Austin Wells behind the plate. Los Angeles starts Miguel Rojas at second and Eliezer Alfonzo at catcher.
For more viral sports and trending coverage, explore BlasterPost’s Future Tech & AI Wonders desk. The nightcap airs on NBC, with radio on WFAN and Dodgers Radio, and streaming on Peacock.