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Mariners Vs. Dodgers Game Preview: Sheldon Neuse Starts In Left Field

Matt Borelli
3 Min Read
Norm Hall/Getty Images

After dropping a fifth consecutive series, the Los Angeles Dodgers return home for the start of another Interleague matchup against the Seattle Mariners. The teams previously faced off in April and split a two-game set at T-Mobile Park.

Walker Buehler takes the mound and looks to build on a solid start against the Chicago Cubs. In six innings of work, he allowed just two runs on five hits with eight strikeouts.

The right-hander is 1-0 with a 3.13 ERA, 3.00 FIP and 0.94 WHIP in 37.1 innings this season (six starts). He has 39 strikeouts compared to just two walks, which is good for a National League-best 19.5 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Buehler made his lone start against the Mariners back in 2018, giving up just one run on three hits with eight strikeouts over six innings pitched.

Seattle counters with Yusei Kikuchi, who has fared much better as of late after a rough start to the season. He has allowed just three runs and six hits over his last 14 innings with 14 strikeouts against three walks.

Kikuchi enters Tuesday’s start with an overall 1-2 record, 4.30 ERA, 4.40 FIP and 1.09 WHIP in 37.2 innings pitched (six games). He’s faced the Dodgers just once in his career, which came last year when he yielded five runs, four hits and four walks over 4.2 innings pitched.

The Dodgers recalled Luke Raley from Triple-A Oklahoma City as AJ Pollock continues to nurse a Grade 1 left hamstring strain. Sheldon Neuse starts in left field for the first time in his career and only a second game overall. Neuse replaced Pollock when he suffered the hamstring strain last Friday.

The Dodgers are 4-4 in Interleague play this season and 10-5 in their last 15 games against the American League. L.A. finished with a 16-4 Interleague record last season, which tied with the 2017 club for the best mark in franchise history. The Dodgers have not had a losing record in Interleague play since 2012, when they went 6-9.

Dodgers lineup

RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
C: Will Smith
1B: Max Muncy
CF: Chris Taylor
LF: Sheldon Neuse
2B: Gavin Lux
P: Walker Buehler

Mariners lineup

SS: J.P. Crawford
RF: Mitch Haniger
CF: Kyle Lewis
3B: Kyle Seager
2B: Ty France
C: Luis Torrens
LF: Dylan Moore
1B: Evan White
P: Yusei Kikuchi

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Matt Borelli covers the Los Angeles Dodgers as a staff writer for Dodger Blue and holds similar responsibilities for Lakers Nation, a sister site with an emphasis on the Los Angeles Lakers. He also contributes to RamsNewswire.com and RaidersNewswire.com. An avid fantasy sports player, Matt is a former 2014 MLB Beat the Streak co-champion. His favorite Dodgers moment, among a list of many, is Clayton Kershaw's no-hitter against the Colorado Rockies in 2014. Follow him on Twitter: @mcborelli.