The Los Angeles Dodgers and Seattle Mariners meet Wednesday in the first of two games in three days. Los Angeles previously defeated Seattle, 7-3, at Camelback Ranch on March 5.
As the Dodgers continue to evaluate their options for the back of the rotation, Brandon McCarthy makes his third start of the spring. In his first outing, the right-hander allowed two runs on two hits over two innings.
McCarthy then held the Texas Rangers to just one hit and collected three strikeouts in three innings pitched. McCarthy has shown his usual command, which was a welcomed sight after he battled the yips near the end of the 2016 season.
With McCarthy earning the start, Julio Urias will pitch in relief, just like the setup in the game against the Rangers. However, this time Urias will piggyback McCarthy, and throw two or three innings, after McCarthy’s expected four frames. Adam Liberatore and Chris Hatcher are also scheduled to pitch.
Chris Heston takes the mound for the Mariners, making his fourth start in what’s been a dominant Spring Training. Heston has certainly punched his ticket into the 2017 starting rotation, after spending his first three Major League seasons with the San Francisco Giants.
In seven total innings, Heston has allowed zero runs and just four hits, while collecting three strikeouts.
Trayce Thompson celebrates his 26th birthday and makes his third start of the spring, and second in center field, since returning from last year’s back injury. The versatile outfielder is hitless in five at-bats as he works to catch up to others who have been full-go since the start of Cactus League play.
While the Dodgers missed several of the Mariners’ regulars in their previous meeting, such will not be the case at Peoria Sports Complex. Namely, Kyle Seager is hitting third in the lineup. He has eight hits in 28 at-bats, with two doubles, two RBI and four walks.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Chase Utley
LF: Andrew Toles
3B: Justin Turner
CF: Trayce Thompson
1B: Cody Bellinger
C: Bobby Wilson
DH: Austin Barnes
SS: Charlie Culberson
RF: Brett Eibner
Mariners lineup:
LF: Jarrod Dyson
RF: Ben Gamel
3B: Kyle Seager
1B: Danny Valencia
DH: Daniel Vogelbach
C: Carlos Ruiz
CF: Leonys Martin
2B: Mike Freeman
SS: Shawn O’Malley
