Spring Training Preview: Trevor Bauer Starts As Dodgers Face Mariners

Looking to bounce back from Sunday’s 10-4 loss to the San Francisco Giants, the Los Angeles Dodgers are back on the road for a matchup against the Seattle Mariners at Peoria Stadium. The teams previously played to a tie in their first matchup on March 11.

Trevor Bauer makes his fourth start and fifth overall outing in Cactus League play. He piggybacked Clayton Kershaw in his most recent appearance against the Milwaukee Brewers last week, allowing two runs on three hits with seven strikeouts over five innings pitched.

“He doesn’t care about the ego of starting,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained of Bauer pitching out of the bullpen. “He can get his prep work before the game and while Clayton is pitching.

“The main thing for these guys, looking out at off days and things like that, his schedule was for him to pitch [Tuesday]. He had no problem piggybacking to get his four innings in.”

Bauer enters with a 1-0 record, 2.03 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 13.1 innings this spring. He has notched 16 strikeouts thus far while walking only five batters.

Blake Treinen, Bobby Miller and Josiah Gray are also scheduled to pitch.

The Mariners counter with Justus Sheffield, who makes his fourth start of Cactus League. He has struggled to this point, allowing six runs on 11 hits with seven strikeouts and five walks in 8.1 innings pitched.

In 10 starts last season, Sheffield went 4-3 with career-bests in ERA (3.58), FIP (3.17) and WHIP (1.30) over 55.1 innings of work.

Although the Dodgers have allowed some pitchers — Clayton Kershaw, David Price and Tony Gonsolin — to bat, Bauer will not do so. Austin Barnes is instead the designated hitter, with Will Smith behind the plate.

Dodgers lineup

RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
C: Will Smith
1B: Max Muncy
2B: Chris Taylor
DH: Austin Barnes
LF: Matt Beaty
CF: DJ Peters

Mariners lineup

RF: Mitch Haniger
LF: Taylor Trammell
CF: Kyle Lewis
3B: Kyle Seager
C: Luis Torrens
2B: Dylan Moore
1B: Evan White
DH: José Marmolejos
SS: J.P. Crawford

Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, participate in our shows and giveaways, and more!