Roki Sasaki starts as Dodgers close Mariners series
Roki Sasaki starts for the Dodgers against Bryan Woo and the Mariners in Thursday’s series finale at Dodger Stadium, with first pitch at 7:10 p.m. PT. Sasaki has allowed one earned run in 12.2 innings on a recent New York road trip, while Seattle seeks clarity before Monday’s trade deadline. The matchup closes a contentious series and puts a resurgent Dodgers starter opposite a Mariners right-hander searching for answers.
Key Takeaways
- Roki Sasaki faces Bryan Woo in the Mariners-Dodgers series finale at 7:10 p.m. PT at Dodger Stadium.
- Sasaki allowed one earned run over 12.2 innings against the Mets and Yankees on his recent road trip.
- Woo’s LOB% has fallen from 80.4% last season to 63.1% in 2026, and his road line sits at .304/.344/.479.
- Shohei Ohtani is getting a rest day; Seattle has four games left before Monday’s trade deadline.
- Seattle-territory fans can watch free on Mariners.TV with an MLB.com account.
Why does Roki Sasaki matter in this matchup?
True Blue LA frames Roki Sasaki versus Bryan Woo as less daunting than it looked before the season—yet Sasaki’s recent form is the headline. After a rough stretch that included the long ball Seattle used to win Tuesday, he returned from New York looking sharp: one earned run in 12.2 innings against the Mets and Yankees, that lone run also coming via a home run.
Lookout Landing calls him the “resurgent” Roki Sasaki, and with Ohtani resting, Los Angeles leans on that momentum to finish the series. Homers remain the clearest red flag in his worst outings, which is exactly how Seattle beat him earlier in the set.
What has held Bryan Woo back in 2026?
Woo posted back-to-back seasons with an ERA under 3.00 in 2024 and 2025, but True Blue LA says he has not looked like that ace this year despite similar underlying numbers and a lower FIP than a year ago. His stranded-runner rate cratered from 80.4% to 63.1%, and Lookout Landing notes a bleak road slash of .304/.344/.479 with a .354 wOBA—roughly like facing an All-Star bat every plate appearance.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, have put runners on against Luis Castillo and Emerson Hancock but struggled to cash them in efficiently. In Wednesday’s win they scored four runs on 11 hits with just one walk, with Eric Lauer blanking Seattle after Justin Wrobleski had been tagged for homers earlier in the series.
How can fans watch Mariners vs. Dodgers tonight?
First pitch is 7:10 p.m. PT at Dodger Stadium. Local Dodgers coverage is on SportsNet LA, with radio on AM 570 (English) and KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish). Per MLB.com, fans in the Seattle territory can stream the finale free on Mariners.TV—no credit card required, only an MLB.com account—as Seattle stays in the AL West and Wild Card mix.
With only four games between Thursday and Monday’s trade deadline, Lookout Landing argues the Mariners need every bit of clarity they can find. For more BlasterPost coverage across emerging angles in sports and media, visit our Future Tech & AI Wonders hub.