The Dodgers finally clinched the NL West on Thursday and celebrated in the Arizona away team clubhouse. Next stop Seattle, for the final series of the regular season. Clinching the National League West title on Thursday allows the Dodgers the ability to relax slightly before the playoffs and do a reset of sorts. Since the […]
The Dodgers finally clinched the NL West on Thursday and celebrated in the Arizona away team clubhouse. Next stop Seattle, for the final series of the regular season.
Clinching the National League West title on Thursday allows the Dodgers the ability to relax slightly before the playoffs and do a reset of sorts. Since the Dodgers did not have one of the top two records in the NL, they will start the playoffs hosting the number six seed in the Wild Card round on Tuesday.
The Dodgers can use this series as a ‘bye’, insofar as being able to rest starters as much as possible and allowing those arms in the bullpen that need work to do so in low pressure situations.
Emmet Sheehan, Tyler Glasnow, and Clayton Kershaw are lined up to finish up the season. Neither Sheehan nor Kershaw look to figure into the starting rotation for the playoffs, so they could conceivably eat some more innings they might not have before. Ben Rordvedt can get some rest with Daulton Rushing getting more work in coming back from his IL stint.
Seattle has also clinched their division, using a sweep against the Houston Astros last weekend to secure their win. They have the same record as the Dodgers, 90-69. The Mariners however will have one of the top two seeds in the American League and will have to navigate how to manage their team until next weekend when their part of the playoffs start.
The biggest news surrounding the Mariners of course is the season that catcher Cal Raleigh is having. Affectionately known as ‘The Big Dumper’, Raleigh is having himself an MVP season. Raleigh has 60 home runs, two away from the AL record of 62 that was set by reigning MVP Aaron Judge. The Mariners plan seems to be moving Raleigh to designated hitter for the final few games to give him some rest but allow him to chase that record.
The Mariners reunited with Eugenio Suarez at the trade deadline, after he was traded from the Mariners to the Diamondbacks in 2023. Suarez sits at 49 homers on the season, and if he hits one more this weekend Seattle will have only the second set of teammates to both have 50 or more home runs in the same season.
Enjoy the last relatively stress-free series of the season, Dodger fans. On Tuesday, it gets real.
Friday game info
- Teams: Dodgers at Mariners
- Ballpark: T-Mobile Park, Seattle
- Start time: 6:40 p.m.
- TV: SportsNet LA
- Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)
Category: General Sports
