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The Los Angeles Dodgers and Seattle Mariners are set to decide their three-game series on Thursday evening at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium. The Mariners claimed the opener on Tuesday with a 7-6 victory, a back-and-forth contest that concluded with Mookie Betts grounding out while the tying and winning runs were in scoring position.
Wednesday saw the Dodgers bounce back with a 4-2 win, fueled by six shutout innings from left-hander Eric Lauer. This performance came in what might be Lauer's final start with the team, as the trade deadline approaches.
Both clubs are eager to secure the series win heading into the weekend, with the trade deadline set for Monday. The Dodgers' starting lineup includes Tommy Edman at second base, Andy Pages in center field, Freddie Freeman at first, Max Muncy at third, Mookie Betts at shortstop, Kyle Tucker in right, Teoscar Hernandez as designated hitter, Dalton Rushing behind the plate, and Kike Hernandez in left.
Shohei Ohtani is surprisingly absent from the lineup as he continues to recover from knee and biceps injuries. Ohtani has stated that the knee issue affects his pitching and base running but not his hitting. However, his absence on Thursday is a concerning development.
Pitching Matchup
Right-hander Roki Sasaki will start for the Dodgers, aiming to extend his strong performance since the All-Star break. In two second-half starts, Sasaki has allowed just one earned run over 12.2 innings, posting a 0.71 ERA. His fastball velocity has increased, and he has generated 37 swings and misses in those outings. Manager Dave Roberts commented, 'I do think where he is at mechanically now, he isn't thinking about that when he is on the mound. He is in compete mode. His delivery is in repeat mode. It doesn't seem like he is searching anymore. He is just trying to execute a gameplan.' Overall this season, Sasaki holds a 4.71 ERA over 93.2 innings with 94 strikeouts and 36 walks.
Opposing him will be Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo, who has a 4.37 ERA across 115.1 innings with 114 strikeouts and 24 walks. Woo, an All-Star in 2025, has had a down year after posting sub-3.00 ERAs in each of the previous two seasons.
How to Watch
First pitch for Thursday's game is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. PT / 10:10 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on SportsNet LA, the MLB app, and MLB Network. Radio coverage is available on AM570 (English) and KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish).