Dodgers hold on to narrow lead in the standings and face Mariners

Looking to keep their stubborn division rivals at bay, the Los Angeles Dodgers will get reinforcements this week when they open a three-game home series against the Seattle Mariners on Monday.

The Dodgers led the National League West by 8 1/2 games on July 23 and enter the series with a three-game lead over the San Diego Padres and four games over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Los Angeles ended a 4-3 road trip with a 2-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday. First baseman Freddie Freeman did not play because of a finger injury, but Shohei Ohtani hit his 39th home run and veteran Clayton Kershaw pitched six scoreless innings.

“Every game has been very close for us on this road trip and I feel like we’re playing really good baseball and working toward something we want to do, which is win the division,” veteran Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas said on the SportsNet LA broadcast. “Everyone did a great job, not just in this game but the entire series.”

To help the cause for the final stretch, the Dodgers are expected to activate infielder/outfielder Tommy Edman for the series opener on Monday. Third baseman Max Muncy (oblique) is expected back either Monday or Tuesday. Edman was acquired by the Dodgers from the Cardinals at the trade deadline.

Edman, a former Gold Glove winner at second base who has not played this season because of wrist and ankle injuries, has hit double-digit home runs as a switch-hitter in each of the past three seasons.

He will play in a lineup with Ohtani, who also has 37 steals and is on the verge of the Dodgers’ first 40-40 season.

The Dodgers will send rookie right-hander Gavin Stone to the mound. Stone (10-5, 3.63 ERA) had a 3 1/3 inning, scoreless relief appearance against the Mariners last September, when he allowed one hit.

The Mariners’ visit marks the return of former Dodger Justin Turner, who played nine seasons for his hometown team. Since then, he has played for the Boston Red Sox, the Toronto Blue Jays and now the last two seasons for the Mariners.

It will be Turner’s first game at Dodger Stadium since his departure, but he has played against his former club in each of the last two seasons, batting 6-for-22 (.273) with two home runs and five strikeouts in six games.

The Mariners will send right-hander Bryan Woo (5-1, 2.06) to the mound on Monday. Woo has not allowed an earned run in three of his last four starts, including seven scoreless innings on Wednesday at Detroit in a game Seattle eventually lost 3-2.

Woo, a California native who is in his second season in the major leagues, will face the Dodgers for the first time.

“He’s got what it takes,” Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh said of Woo, according to the Seattle Times. “It’s just a matter of staying healthy, doing the work — the preparation and all that stuff on the off days, getting your body in shape, finding a routine that works for you. That’s what I see. I think he just has to master the process of doing that.”

Seattle has struggled offensively recently and beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-3 on Sunday. Raleigh, Josh Rojas and Dominic Canzone hit home runs, giving Seattle’s starting lineup a hit.

Seattle outfielder/designated hitter Mitch Haniger missed Sunday’s game due to a quadriceps strain and will be evaluated on a day-to-day basis.

–Field level media