You’re stuck in 405 traffic. The sun is setting over the Sepulveda Pass, painting the sky that weird, hazy purple-orange that only exists in Los Angeles. You reach for the dial. There’s a specific crackle, a brief moment of static, and then—the sound of a breaking ball hitting leather. If you’re a fan, finding a dodger game live on radio isn't just a backup plan for when you can't get to a TV. It’s a ritual. Honestly, even with 5G and high-definition streaming, there is something about the radio broadcast that feels more "Dodgers" than anything else.
Radio is intimate. It’s just you and the announcers.
The AM 570 Factor
Most people know the drill: AM 570 KLAC is the home. It’s been that way for a while. But it's not just about the frequency; it's about the voices. Ever since Vin Scully hung up the mic, there was this massive, terrifying void. How do you replace the greatest to ever do it? You don't. You just try to keep the tradition alive. Charley Steiner and Rick Monday have stepped into that space with a style that is uniquely theirs. Steiner brings that old-school, almost theatrical flair, while Monday—the guy who literally saved the American flag on the field in 1976—provides the grit and the deep tactical "why" behind every play.
Sometimes the broadcast feels like a conversation between two old friends who happen to be watching a masterpiece. They digress. They talk about the humidity. They mention a scouting report from 1994. Then, suddenly, a crack of the bat.
"High fly ball, deep left field!"
Your heart rate jumps. You aren't seeing it, but you're feeling it. That’s the magic of the medium.
Why the digital lag is killing your vibe
We have to talk about the lag. It’s the worst. You’re sitting on your porch, listening to a dodger game live on radio via a smartphone app. Your neighbor, who is actually using a physical, battery-operated radio from 1992, suddenly screams. You’re sitting there in silence. Thirty seconds later, you finally hear the home run.
✨ Don't miss: The Division 2 National Championship Game: How Ferris State Just Redrew the Record Books
Digital streaming over LTE or 5G introduces a buffer. If you want the "true" live experience, you need those old-fashioned radio waves. AM signals travel. They bounce. They carry that specific "ballpark sound" that digital compression often flattens out.
If you are using the MLB app or iHeartRadio to catch the game, you're essentially getting a "near-live" experience. It’s fine for a cubicle, but it’s a disaster for a sports bar or a communal viewing party. If you want to be synced with the world, go analog.
The Spanish Broadcast: KTNQ 1020 AM
You cannot talk about Dodgers radio without mentioning the legendary Spanish-language broadcast. Jaime Jarrín may have retired, but the legacy he built at KTNQ 1020 AM is the backbone of the Los Angeles fan base. Pepe Yñiguez and José Mota carry that torch now. The energy on 1020 AM is often higher than the English broadcast. Even if your Spanish is shaky, the rhythm of the call is infectious. "¡Jonrón!" sounds better than "home run" sometimes. It just does.
Finding the signal when you're out of town
What happens if you’re driving through the Grapevine or stuck in the high desert? The Dodgers have one of the most extensive radio networks in the country. It’s not just KLAC.
- KHTY 970 AM in Bakersfield.
- KSPA 1510 AM in Ontario/Inland Empire.
- KCOY 1440 AM in Santa Maria.
The reach is massive because the Dodgers aren't just an LA team; they are a regional powerhouse. If you're heading toward Vegas, you might lose the signal around Barstow, but that’s when the MLB at Bat subscription becomes your best friend. For a few bucks a month, you get the home and away feeds with no geographic blackouts. That's a huge distinction—radio broadcasts don't have the same "blackout" headaches that plague SportsNet LA on TV.
The technical "How-To" for 2026
Technology has shifted, but the basics remain. If you're trying to catch a dodger game live on radio right now, here is the hierarchy of reliability:
🔗 Read more: Por qué los partidos de Primera B de Chile son más entretenidos que la división de honor
The Transistor Radio: Still the king. Zero latency. Runs on AA batteries. Works when the power is out. If you're at the stadium, this is the only way to hear the commentary without it being a full play behind the action on the field.
The Car Radio: The gold standard. Car tuners are surprisingly powerful. They can pull in the 570 signal from impressive distances, especially at night when AM waves "skip" off the ionosphere.
Smart Speakers: "Alexa, play AM 570 KLAC." It’s convenient, but remember the 30-60 second delay. Don't check Twitter while doing this, or you’ll spoil every big moment for yourself.
The MLB App: High quality, very stable, but it costs a subscription fee. The upside is that you can choose between the English and Spanish feeds easily.
What most people get wrong about the "Noises"
Have you ever noticed that weird "thump" on the radio during a home game? That’s not a technical glitch. It’s the placement of the crowd mics. The Dodgers' production team purposely mixes the ambient sound of the Ravine high into the broadcast. They want you to hear the beer vendors. They want you to hear the "Let's Go Dodgers" chant that starts in the Left Field Pavilion.
When you listen to a dodger game live on radio, you’re hearing a carefully curated soundscape. It’s designed to make you feel like you’re sitting in the shade of the loge level, even if you’re actually stuck in a cubicle in Burbank.
💡 You might also like: South Carolina women's basketball schedule: What Most People Get Wrong
The Rick Monday "Safety" check
There is a specific cadence to a Rick Monday broadcast. He’s a "weather guy." He will spend five minutes talking about the way the wind is blowing out toward right-center field. To a casual listener, it’s filler. To a die-hard, it’s essential data. He’s explaining why a ball that looked like a 450-foot bomb just died on the warning track.
This level of nuance is often lost on TV, where the camera does the work. On the radio, the announcer has to be your eyes. They have to tell you how the shortstop is shading toward second base. They have to describe the sweat on the pitcher's brow.
Practical Steps for the Best Experience
If you're serious about your radio listening, stop relying on your phone's crappy internal speaker. Get a dedicated AM/FM pocket radio. Brands like Sangean or Sony still make incredible little units that cost less than thirty bucks.
Keep the following frequencies saved in your phone notes so you aren't scrolling through Google while driving:
- Primary: 570 AM (KLAC)
- Spanish: 1020 AM (KTNQ)
- Ventura/Oxnard: 1450 AM (KVEN)
- San Diego: 1360 AM (KGB)
When the playoffs roll around, the radio is often the only way to avoid the national TV announcers who might not know the Dodgers roster as well as the local guys do. Tuning into the local dodger game live on radio feed while muting the TV is a pro move that fans have been doing for decades. It takes some work to sync the audio—usually involving pausing the TV for a few seconds—but the payoff is a much more informed broadcast.
Check your signal strength before the first pitch. AM radio is notoriously susceptible to interference from electronic devices, LED lights, and even your car's alternator. If you're getting a lot of buzzing, move the radio away from your laptop or phone charger.
The Dodgers are more than a team; they are a 162-game soundtrack to the summer. Whether it's a random Tuesday in May or a high-stakes October night, the radio is the most honest way to experience it. No flashy graphics, no distracting superimposed ads on the mound—just the game, the dirt, and the voice.
Actionable Next Steps:
Locate an old analog AM/FM radio and test the 570 AM signal in different parts of your home to find the "dead zones" caused by electronic interference. If you plan to stream the game, download the iHeartRadio app ahead of time and create a "Dodgers" station shortcut to bypass the search menu during game time. For those attending a game at Dodger Stadium, bring a pair of wired headphones (not Bluetooth, to avoid lag) and a pocket radio to hear the play-by-play in real-time while you watch from the stands. This bridges the gap between the live atmosphere and the expert analysis provided by the broadcast team.