The Los Angeles Dodgers return to Dodger Stadium to kick off a three-game interleague series against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday evening. Coming off a 6-3 East Coast road trip, the Dodgers bring the best record in Major League Baseball into their first homestand following the All-Star break.
What Is Happening
The Dodgers (67-39) host the Mariners (52-55) in a clash between two teams fighting for critical positioning as the MLB trade deadline approaches. Los Angeles leads the Milwaukee Brewers by one game for the overall best record in baseball while holding a commanding 12.5-game cushion in the NL West. Seattle enters the series third in the AL West, trailing the Texas Rangers by 2.5 games and sitting two games back of the final American League wild-card spot.
The Background
Los Angeles enters the series seeking to bounce back from a loss against the New York Mets, where the offense stalled and allowed seven unanswered runs. Despite injuries to key players like Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Edwin Díaz, the Dodgers have maintained dominant statistical metrics across the board. They rank first in the National League with a 112 wRC+ while holding top-tier marks in fielding and pitching efficiency.
The Latest Development
2026 All-Star left-hander Justin Wrobleski (11-2, 2.62 ERA) takes the mound for Los Angeles in the opener. Wrobleski is fourth in the National League in ERA and holds an .846 winning percentage across 17 starts. The Dodgers face Seattle right-hander Luis Castillo (3-9, 4.85 ERA), who carries a career 2.83 ERA against Los Angeles despite struggles this season. The Dodgers fielded their top lineup configuration for the opener, placing MVP favorite Shohei Ohtani in the lead-off spot as designated hitter, followed by Andy Pages, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, Mookie Betts, Tommy Edman, Kyle Tucker, Teoscar Hernández, and catcher Dalton Rushing.
What It Means
For Seattle, the three-game set represents a vital opportunity to stay within striking distance of the Guardians and Astros in the AL Wild Card race. For Los Angeles, maintaining their current pace ensures home-field advantage through the postseason. Fans attending the opener will also receive replica World Series rings featuring notable franchise stars as part of a stadium promotion.
What Remains Unclear
The timeline for pitching returns across the Dodgers' injured list has not been established for Snell or Glasnow. Additionally, Ohtani's pitching timeline following a June knee injury remains indefinite, though he continues to perform as the primary DH in the starting lineup.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is the first game between the Dodgers and Mariners?
- Game 1 is scheduled for Tuesday, July 28 at 7:10 p.m. PT at Dodger Stadium.
- Who are the starting pitchers for Game 1?
- Justin Wrobleski starts for the Dodgers against Luis Castillo for the Mariners.
- Where can fans stream the Mariners vs Dodgers series?
- In-market fans in the Seattle territory can access a free preview stream on Mariners.TV.
- What is the Dodgers record entering the series?
- Los Angeles holds MLB's best record at 67-39.
- Who is batting first for the Dodgers lineup?
- Shohei Ohtani bats lead-off as the designated hitter.