Count on LA to clock Mariners

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, July 30, 2026

The Los Angeles Dodgers are favored to win the final game of their preseason series against the Seattle Mariners, with young pitcher Roki Sasaki showing significant improvement after a recent change in glove size. Seattle's Bryce Miller, once their top starter, has struggled recently due to possible fatigue and injuries, making the Dodgers' strong pitching and offensive bets particularly appealing for this matchup.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Seattle Mariners are set to conclude their three-game preseason series Thursday night, with Los Angeles favored to take the victory. Despite the Mariners winning the opening game, their performance this season has been regarded as underwhelming, as they currently hold a record just below .500 and enter Thursday’s contest as +128 underdogs.

Seattle will start Bryce Miller, one of their leading pitchers, who carries a 4-5 record with a 2.75 ERA. Opposing him on the mound will be Los Angeles’ Roki Sasaki, also 4-5 but with a higher ERA of 4.71. Although Sasaki’s season statistics might suggest he is the weaker option, the 24-year-old right-hander has been experiencing a notable upswing in form. His last outing featured seven innings of one-run baseball against the New York Mets, including nine strikeouts, marking one of the most impressive performances of his young career.

Reports indicate that a change in glove size may have contributed to Sasaki’s recent improvement, as it was believed the Dodgers had been able to detect his pitch types previously. Over his last three starts, Sasaki has allowed only four earned runs in nearly 19 innings pitched, lowering his ERA to 1.93 during that span.

In contrast, Miller has faced challenges as of late. While he had been Seattle’s most reliable pitcher earlier in the season, his last three outings have seen a decline, with 11 earned runs allowed over 16 innings and a notably reduced velocity in later innings, suggesting possible fatigue or lingering effects from injuries dating back to 2024. His most recent start was particularly concerning, as he failed to record a single strikeout.

Given these factors, many analysts are leaning toward backing the Dodgers to claim victory, with some wagering on Los Angeles winning by at least two runs. Additionally, there is interest in bets predicting the Dodgers will score more than 2.5 runs in the first five innings. Sasaki’s strikeout total prop bet has yet to be officially announced for this game, but it has previously been set at 5.5 strikeouts in most of his recent appearances. Considering his recent form, bettors are advised to consider taking the over on Sasaki’s strikeout total, potentially aiming for more than 7.5 strikeouts at higher odds.

The series finale promises an intriguing pitching matchup as both teams look to finish strong in one of the more competitive preseason contests involving two teams once favored to contend for the World Series.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.