A new week brings new series in MLB, and the 16-7 Los Angeles Dodgers and RHP Ross Stripling return to their home stadium to host the 7-16 Seattle Mariners with rookie RHP Justin Dunn on the mound. The Dodgers hit four more homers Sunday to sweep the LA Angels while the Mariners lost their fifth straight game while being swept in Houston.
The series opener gets underway at 9:40 p.m. ET and is not on national TV with local broadcasts on SportsNet LA and ROOTNW.
The Dodgers lead the all-time series against the Mariners with a 17-14 record, including a 10-7 record in California. The last time these teams met was in 2018, and the Dodgers won two of three in Seattle while the swept the Mariners in Los Angels in 2015. The last time the Mariners won a series against the Dodgers was back in 2009 when they took two of three at Dodger Stadium.
Seattle Mariners Outlook: Get a Good Start
The Mariners pitching has been a disaster so far this season as they rank either last or next-to-last in the AL in ERA (5.75), WHIP (1.40), runs allowed (133), walks (95), HR allowed (15) and losses (16). Reliever Matt Magill is unscored upon in eight outings while Trevor Williams has three saves but an ERA of 4.70
The offense hasn’t been much better as the hitters rank in the bottom three in the AL in home runs (20), runs scored (85), batting average (.221), OBP (.301) and slugging (.658). Among the bright spots is rookie OF Kyle Lewis batting .325/.400/.482 with four homers and 3B Kyle Seager batting .288/.366/.488 with three homers and 19 RBI.
Dunn, the Mariners No. 8 prospect picked up his first MLB victory on Monday with two runs allowed over six innings against Texas. That was his first career MLB outing to go longer than four innings. This will be his first-ever outing against the Dodgers.
Los Angeles Dodgers Outlook: Swing Away
The 16-7 Dodgers have the best record in the National League and are the betting favorites to return to the World Series for the third time in four seasons. The Dodgers lead the NL with 43 homers and 128 runs scored and also lead the league with a 2.40 team ERA.
Even when they call up rookies, they get production as catcher Keibert Ruiz subbed for injured Will Smith Sunday and homered in his first MLB contest.
Mookie Betts is batting .314/.372/.663 with eight homers while Max Muncy, AJ Pollock, and Corey Seager each have five homers. Cody Bellinger’s average is down at .187, but he has four homers and 11 RBI. While the starting rotation gets all the pub, the Dodgers bullpen has been brilliant in 2020, with eight different hurlers logging at least six appearances and an ERA under 1.25.
Stripling struggled a bit against the Padres earlier this week in a loss. He allowed six runs, four unearned, on six hits over four 2/3 innings while surrendering a pair of home runs. Stripling has never faced the Mariners but has retired Dee Gordon in all five career at-bats.
Seattle Mariners at Los Angeles Dodgers Betting Lines
Los Angeles Dodgers to win: -305
Seattle Mariners to win: +245
Over/Under: 9 runs (O +100, U -120)
While these teams are drastically mismatched on paper and in the talent column, there is some intrigue as the Seager brothers go head-to-head at the MLB level for the first time. Both Kyle and younger brother Corey are swinging hot bats, but little brother has the better team.
Look for the Dodgers to win a sixth straight game to start the series.
FREE PICK: Over nine runs (+110)
