Indians and Mariners Wrap Up Three-Game Set Today in Seattle; Three Keys to a Tribe Win

The Tribe and Mariners will play the rubber match of their opening series three-game set today in Seattle, with a first pitch at 4:10pm, right about the time most families have digested their Easter dinners.

The first two games have both been one-run affairs, with the first going to Seattle 2-1 on Thursday night with Felix Hernandez topping Corey Kluber, and Saturday it was the Tribe's new first basemen in Yonder Alonso with a grand slam and some key relief pitching that did enough for the Indians to earn a 6-5 win.

After today's affair the Indians won't have any rest, as they will open up a three-game series on Monday night against the Angeles in Los Angeles before coming home for the opener in what's expected to be sub 40 temps Friday against the Royals of Kansas City.

Here's a look at the breakdown for today's finale against Seattle.

Date: Sunday, April 1

Time: 4:10 p.m. ET

Location: Safeco Field -- Seattle, Washington

Starting Pitchers:CLE - Trevor Bauer (17-9 last season) vs SEA - Mike Leake (10-13 last season)

TV Channel: Fox Sports Ohio

Online Stream: MLB.TV

Radio: AM WTAM 1100

Click the next pages for the keys to an Indians series win today

1. Bauer's First Time to Toe the Rubber in 2018

Trevor Bauer stepped up and had a big 2017, going 17-9 last season, and coming into his own as a very good number three option in the Indians rotation behind Kluber and Carlos Carrasco.

The Tribe's number three has had issues in the past with the Mariners, going just 1-4 with a 4.74 ERA in seven career appearances, including six starts, against Seattle, hoping today to reverse that trend.

Many think that Bauer is going to have a breakout season in 2018, his 6th with the Indians after the team acquired him in a deal with the Diamondbacks back in 2013.

Bauer struggled early last season in first first two starts, allowing 10 earned runs in 10.2 innings in losses to the Diamondbacks and Detroit Tigers before he started to find his stride.

He'll be asked to give the team some innings today after Carrasco scuffled on Saturday and the pen was taxed in the eventual 6-5 win.

2. Get off to a Hot Start Against Mike Leake

The Indians saw M's Sunday starter Mike Leake late last season, as they went up against him on September 24th in a Tribe 4-2 win in Seattle.

That day Leake went 6.2 innings, and was tagged for 3 runs on seven hits with no walks and five K's. The 30-year-old has been around, and the Indians offense, which was defined by two hits on Saturday (homers by Gomes and Alonso) really need to be patient at the plate.

Leake’s fastball is said to be in the 88-94 MPH range and it sits 89-91 MPH, meaning it he leaves something over the plate he can be had. He also throws a slider that the Indians need to lay off of, and he's got a decent change-up and curveball.

Get to him early and work the count against him, and the make him throw a lot of pitches early to be successful.

3. Good Day to See J-Ram Get Going

Everything gets over-magnified the first few days of the season, but one player that the Indians really need to have this season has gotten off to a slow start, that being third basemen Jose Ramirez.

J-Ram is 0-for-8 in the first two games, and yes, I know, it's just two games, but against Leake a player that has very good command and doesn't walk many batters, here's hoping that one of the Tribe trendsetters can get the offense moving.

Along with Ramirez, Bradley Zimmer has yet to get a hit thus far (0-for-5), and Frankie Lindor is just 1-for-9 in the first two games.

The offense can't rely on homers to win games every day, and let's see if today can be a day that they can string some hits together and get some runs moving base to base.