Mariners vs Angels Series Preview: Losing Ground
AL West Rivals Meet as Seattle Trends Down
The Seattle Mariners visit the Los Angeles Angels in a four-game series that will take both teams to the All-Star Break.
Seattle has seen its lead in the AL West shrink to 2.0 games over Houston. The Angels are well back in the division and wild card standings. The Mariners are pretty much set with their rotation for the series.
- The Angels called up Jack Kochanowicz from AA to start tonight’s game. The Mariners vs Angels series preview shows Luis Castillo is -165 tonight and the total is 8.5-under (-120).
Seattle’s offense has been pretty dismal this season. The Mariners rank last in MLB with a .217 batting average and the MLB team is scoring just 3.8 runs per game.
- That number does increase to 4.1 runs per game on the road, which is still below the 4.4 average runs per game. The Mariners have 103 home runs, which is No. 13 in the MLB rankings. Seattle also leads MLB in strikeouts.
While the hitting has been dismal, the pitching has been great. The Mariners have a team ERA of 3.50, which is No. 3 in MLB and leads the American League.
The relief pitchers have 26 saves in 36 opportunities and are No. 10 in bullpen ERA at 3.68. The only reason Seattle is getting a little respect in its MLB World Series odds is the pitching staff.
Mariners vs Angels 
📊Records: Seattle Mariners (51-43), Los Angeles Angels (38-54)
⏰Day/Time:
📍Location: Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA
📺Streaming: MLB.TV
- The Angels are No. 20 in team batting average, hitting .236. Los Angeles has 98 home runs and scores 4.1 runs per game and 4.2 runs at home.
The Angels are scoring a little more than Seattle, but it’s certainly not a team strength.
The pitching staff for the Angels hasn’t been very good, with the team ranking No. 28 in team ERA. The relief pitchers do have 21 saves in 30 opportunities but are also No. 28 in team ERA.
BREAKING: Harriton’s Jack Kochanowicz has been called up by the Los Angeles Angels to make his MLB debut tomorrow against Seattle.
Kochanowicz was drafted by the Angels in the third round back in 2019, and has ran his fastball up to 100 MPH this year for Double A Rocket City pic.twitter.com/oAcAevo4k7
— Delco Baseball Now (@DelcoBaseball) July 10, 2024
Thursday’s Game
- Castillo hasn’t been bad for Seattle, but he hasn’t been great. He brings a 7-9 record and 3.72 ERA into the contest and the Mariners are 9-10 when he starts and 6-11-2 in totals.
The Mariners are just 3-6 when he starts on the road and have lost his last four away starts.
Kochanowicz didn’t have the greatest MLB Player stats when pitching for the Rocket City Trash Pandas this season. He was 5-6 with a 4.55 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 91 innings.
He does catch a break in getting to face one of the worst offenses in Major League Baseball in his debut.
- Castillo is proven, but Seattle’s offense is not. It’s not easy to lay -165 with the Mariners when you consider their dismal record with Castillo away from home.
The Angeles don’t inspire a lot of confidence themselves, especially with Kochanowicz on the mound. It’s not east playing the over here considering the offensive struggles of both teams, but that may be the best way to play this game.
Friday’s Game
- The Mariners vs Angels series preview shows Bryan Woo and Tyler Anderson as the starting pitchers for Friday’s Game 2. Woo has been solid in limited starts for the Mariners, going 3-1 with a 1.77 ERA.
He isn’t overpowering, but Seattle is 6-2 when he starts. The two losses have come in his last two starts.
Anderson is pitching well for the Angels and is 8-8 with a 2.81 ERA. Los Angeles is 9-9 when he starts on the season and 7-11 in totals. The Angels are just 4-6 when he starts at home and 5-5 in totals in those games.
- The Mariners are 14-10 against left-handed starters this season, but it’s not due to the offense. Seattle is scoring 4.0 runs against LHP, which is close to its season average.
This one is likely to be fairly even in the MLB betting odds, but it’s easier to back Woo in this spot.
Saturday’s Game
- The Mariners vs Angels series preview sees George Kirby and Jose Soriano as the scheduled pitchers on Saturday. Kirby is 7-6 with a 3.39 ERA and Seattle is 9-10 when he starts.
Kirby’s record has more to do with the Mariner offense, which is scoring just 3.3 runs per game when he takes the mound.
- Soriano is 4-7 with a 3.83 ERA and Seattle is 5-9 when he takes the mound. Los Angeles is 1-4 when Soriano starts at home and he’s had a couple of rough outings there.
His home numbers are a little distorted due to the Angels allowing double-digits in runs twice.
Kirby might be a little more consistent, but Seattle’s 3-7 record when he starts on the road isn’t easy to ignore. The under is likely the best value play here.
Sunday’s Game
- Sunday afternoon’s game is the last on the MLB schedule 2024 for both teams before the All-Star Break. Seattle will start Logan Gilbert, while the Angels haven’t named a pitcher yet.
It could be Roansy Contreras, although it makes sense for the Angels to wait in this case. Los Angeles could use its bullpen more than normal with a short break after Sunday’s game
- Gilbert has pitched well for Seattle, going 6-5 with a 2.94 ERA and the Mariners are 11-8 when he starts. Seattle is 6-4 when he starts on the road.
The Mariners are 11-1 when they score at least three runs for Gilbert, so the offense sometimes deserted him.
Contreras has primarily come out of the bullpen and he could see time on the mound. The biggest question is if it will be as the starter or entering the game in a relief role. The Mariners look to be the play in this game.
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