Having lost consecutive games for the first time this season, the Los Angeles Dodgers are in need of a win against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday afternoon to avoid dropping their first series. The Dodgers and Kansas City Royals are the only teams yet to lose a series this season.
If the Dodgers are to get back in the win column it will be without Mookie Betts as he is not in the lineup one day after being hit by a 95 mph pitch on the inside of his right forearm. The Dodgers did receive a bit of encouraging news as X-rays on Betts’ forearm came back negative.
Manager Dave Roberts said Betts potentially could appear as a pinch-runner, but playing the field and hitting were unlikely. Betts recently missed one week due to lower back stiffness.
The Dodgers still have plenty of talent even without the 2018 American League MVP in their lineup, and they will look to provide run support for Julio Urias. The left-hander is coming off a bit of a rough outing in which he allowed five runs (four earned) to the Colorado Rockies over six innings.
Seattle counters with their own southpaw in Marco Gonzales, who 1-1 with an 8.22 ERA in three starts this season. Gonzales allowed a combined 12 runs in his first two outings before holding the Baltimore Orioles to two last week. Gonzales has surrendered at least one home run in each of his three starts.
The Dodgers are 12-2 in games they hit a homer, with both losses coming within the past two days. Their offense has stalled a bit overall, tallying a combined 11 hits in the last three games.
The Mariners, tied for the best record in the AL, welcome back 2020 Rookie of the Year Kyle Lewis. He began the season on the 10-day injured list due to a deep bone bruise in his right knee that was suffered during a Cactus League game against the Dodgers.
“I think the first thing is Julio go out there and attack the strike zone, get us off to a good start,” Roberts said. I think Marco Gonzales was their Opening Day starter, a really good pitcher, pitches off his changeup, good command, doesn’t give in to hitters.
“I just think for us to continue to have a good approach as an offense and play a clean baseball game. We’ve got our guys rested in the ‘pen, so that should line up well. But it all starts with Julio today.”
Dodgers lineup
CF: Chris Taylor
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
DH: Will Smith
2B: Max Muncy
RF: Zach McKinstry
LF: AJ Pollock
1B: Edwin Rios
C: Austin Barnes
Mariners lineup
RF: Mitch Haniger
CF: Kyle Lewis
3B: Kyle Seager
1B: Evan White
C: Tom Murphy
DH: Luis Torrens
LF: Taylor Trammell
2B: Dylan Moore
SS: J.P. Crawford
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