LA Angels Series Preview: Angels @ Mariners (5/4/18)

The LA Angels are coming off a much-needed sweep of the Baltimore Orioles after a rough skid to end April. A thrashing by the Yankees looked to put the Angels in a rough position starting the month of May, but with the sweep of the Orioles the Angels will look to continue the damage against Seattle.

I can’t say I’m surprised by the LA Angels sweep of the Orioles, this team is too talented and competitive to let the struggling Orioles walk on by without so much as a peep. It wasn’t just a sweep, it was a rightful thrashing. Not to say the Orioles deserve to be thrashed, but the Angels really needed to get a good one in to reclaim lost momentum. In a similar vein as the Orioles series, the Mariners offer the Angels the chance to further that fire they lost over the last couple of weeks.

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Pitching Probables

Friday, 5/4; 7:10 PM PT: Garrett Richards (3-1, 4.88 ERA) vs Mike Leake (3-2, 6.48 ERA)

Saturday, 5/5; 7:10 PM PT: Tyler Skaggs (3-2, 3.03 ERA) vs Marco Gonzalez (3-2, 5.02 ERA)

Sunday, 5/6; 7:10 PM PT: TBA vs Felix Hernandez (4-2, 4.89 ERA)

The LA Angels got back on their feet right on time. With the division rival Seattle Mariners waiting to welcome the Angels with open arms the Halos will have to be on their A++ game to ensure continued success. The Mariners are playing like a team read to compete, and while there is still a lot of baseball left to see if that stands right now they are hot with 7 wins in the last 10.

Garrett Richards hasn’t been doing too hot lately, his last start seeing the Yankees blast him out of the park in 1.2 innings. He was worked over for 3 walks and 9 hits by the Yankees before getting pulled. He’ll look to have a friendlier time out against the Mariners with Leake on the opposing mound. Richards has faced success against the Mariners many times out, in 18 career games he’s pitched to a 3.15 ERA against the division rivals. Like the Angels found in the Baltimore Orioles, Richards will need his bounce back against the Mariners to reclaim his momentum.

To finish the series is a match against King Felix, a man whose crown hasn’t shone as brightly as it had in seasons past. The last two times out he’s allowed 3 runs in 6 IP, which is solid but not as explosive as the former ace used to be. Hernandez has allowed the long ball in all but two starts this season, we may see even more of the slugging Trout and Ohtani than we already are.

What to look for

• Albert Pujols is only one hit from 3,000 after a 3 hit series against the Orioles. While we all would have wanted to see 3,000 come at home it’ll still be a treat to watch Pujols make history while wearing an Angels uniform. With the vulnerability of the Mariners pitchers taking the mound this series we may be lucky enough to see 3,000 notched with a home run.

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• Tyler Skaggs has allowed only 2 hits in the last 2 outings. That’s the kind of fire that differentiates aces from top line starters. In terms of walks Skaggs has allowed only 3, seriously limited the opportunities for opposing hitters to get on base. The Mariners aren’t the biggest pushovers in baseball so it’ll take a big effort for Skaggs to continue his momentum. He did ace the Yankees for 8 strikeouts after all.
• Where exactly did Justin Anderson come from? He’s been electric for the Halos with 5 IP of 3 hit, no run ball. Anderson has come into some seriously high leverage situations and fans are wanting to see him in even more high leverage situations. This series offers plenty of opportunity for Anderson to get to work, so expect to see him further legitimize himself.