It's a classic National League West showdown at Dodger Stadium this Tuesday night, as the Los Angeles Dodgers welcome the San Francisco Giants for what promises to be a thrilling matchup. All eyes will be on Dodgers' right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who takes the mound with a chip on his shoulder—eager to avenge one of his two losses this season.

Yamamoto's last outing against the Giants on April 21 was a tale of two halves. He labored through a rough first inning, surrendering three runs, but then settled in to pitch seven strong frames. Unfortunately, the early damage was enough to hand him the loss. The first inning has been Yamamoto's Achilles' heel this season, as he's allowed six of his total earned runs in the opening frame across seven starts. If he can get through that initial test, he'll be in prime position to dominate.

On the other side, the Giants will counter with Adrian Houser, who is coming off his best start of the year. Houser held the San Diego Padres to just two runs (one earned) over six innings last Wednesday, showing flashes of the form that made him a reliable arm. However, consistency has been elusive—he carries a 6.19 ERA and a 5.56 expected ERA, and the Giants have dropped six of his seven starts this season.

Interestingly, Houser shares Yamamoto's first-inning struggles. He's allowed eight runs and five home runs in the opening frame, making the early moments of this game critical for both pitchers. With two hurlers who can be vulnerable early, expect some fireworks from the jump.

For fans and gear enthusiasts alike, this rivalry game is a perfect excuse to rep your team's colors. Whether you're backing the Dodgers' blue or the Giants' orange and black, Tuesday night's game is a must-watch as these two division rivals battle for momentum.