In the first of a three-game series between the Seattle Mariners (69-75) and the Los Angeles Angels (72-70) at Safeco Field, Taijuan Walker (10-8, 4.70 ERA) and Garrett Richards (13-10, 3.71 ERA) take the mound. The game gets underway at 10:10 p.m. ET on Monday, Sep. 14 and will air on RTNW and FSW.
In his last start, Walker pitched 3.0 innings, allowing five runs (one unearned) and striking out two in a 9-6 loss to the Rangers. Nelson Cruz (.310, 80 Rs, 41 HRs, 87 RBIs, 3 SBs) went 1 for 4 yesterday. The Angels were unsuccessful to the Dodgers 3-2 the last time Richards pitched. He went 7.2 innings, giving up two runs, striking out 11 and walking three. Mike Trout (.292, 89 Rs, 35 HRs, 77 RBIs, 10 SBs) went 1 for 4 yesterday with one run, one home run, and one RBI.
Seattle is a slight -101 underdog in this game and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at seven runs. The Mariners are 28-31 as the underdog and have an overall money line of -1,279. They are 3-1 as the underdog over their last 10 games. Seattle has averaged 5.6 runs per game over the last 10 games, higher than its season average of 4.0. The Mariners are a power hitting team with 175 home runs, one of the highest totals in the MLB.
On the other side, the Angels have a nice record of 52-30 when they are favored, but are -302 overall with the money line. Over the past 10 matchups, they are 7-3 SU and have played well as the favorite with a 4-1 record. When it comes to scoring runs, the Angels have performed much better than normal against teams from the AL West. During those games, they averaged four runs per game, above their 4.0 season average. Los Angeles’s pitching staff and defense as a whole has been firing on all cylinders so far, ranking fourth in the AL with only 4.1 runs allowed per game. They also average just 8.4 hits allowed per game, fifth-best in the AL.
The Angels have gotten the better of the Mariners in head-to-head matchups this season, going 8-5. The Mariners will take on a right-hander (Richards) in this game and have a 48-47 record against right-handed starting pitchers this season. Taking the hill against the Angels will be the right-hander Walker. They sport a 51-51 record against righties.
Predictions: SU Winner – Sea, O/U – Over
Notes
Seattle recorded at least two errors for the 14th time this season.
The Mariners managed to give up seven walks in their last game. They’ll have to pick it up against the Angels who are coming in with a 3-1 record against opponents who give up that many walks or more.
When they are outhit, the Angels are 15-52. The Mariners have an 18-48 record when opponents outhit them.
Los Angeles ranks in the top half of the league at 12th when it comes to home runs, hitting 148 this season. Seattle ranks in the top five at fifth with 175.
Seattle and Los Angeles both rank in the top half of the league in hits. Seattle sits at 11th with 8.52 hits per game and Los Angeles ranks 15th with 8.14.
Ranking 25th, Los Angeles is near the bottom of the league for its on-base plus slugging percentage (.695). Seattle ranks in the bottom half at 16th with an OPS of .722.
When the Angels allow at least one home run, they are 37-56, well-matched with the Mariners who are 34-60 when allowing at least one homer.
