Preview: Angels (59-74) at Mariners (68-65)
Game: 1
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: September 02, 2016 10:10 PM EDT
SEATTLE -- Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels dodged another disastrous moment when the 25-year-old MVP candidate came out of a Wednesday night traffic accident unscathed.
For the Seattle Mariners, who host the Angels in a three-game series beginning Friday night, a recent road trip also felt like a car wreck.
While Trout and the Angels (59-64) let go of their postseason hopes a long time ago, the surprising Mariners have found a way to stay in the wild-card race for most of the season. Eight losses in nine games have put Seattle (68-65) four games back in a crowded race for the final American League wild-card spot, so it probably won't be long before the Mariners are just playing for pride again.
Coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of AL West-leading Texas, the Mariners saw their slim hopes of a division title go up in smoke and are calling in the firetrucks in terms of the AL wild-card race. Wednesday's 14-1 loss to the Rangers in the series finale felt like a splash of gasoline on a fire that had been burning for most of Seattle's 1-6 road trip.
"It was a rough trip," Mariners manager Scott Servais said after the loss and a series that saw Texas outscore Seattle 29-11. "There is no doubt."
Ace Felix Hernandez got touched up in the finale, another hit to a pitching staff that has seen veteran Hisashi Iwakuma fall on hard times and southpaw James Paxton get slowed by a torn fingernail.
No Seattle starter has had a rougher recent stretch than rookie Ariel Miranda, a 27-year-old left-hander who was acquired for veteran Wade Miley at the trade deadline but wasn't officially added to the full-time rotation until last week. Seattle's decision to DFA veteran Wade LeBlanc left Miranda, who is listed as Friday's probable starter, as a permanent member of the rotation -- then he struggled in four innings of work during a 9-3 loss to the White Sox over the weekend.
Thursday's roster expansion didn't provide much help to the struggling rotation, as Seattle activated veteran reliever Evan Scribner and added outfielder Ben Gamel in a trade with the Yankees.
The Angels could also make a series of post-Sept. 1 moves, but the most important one was the move Los Angeles didn't have to make. Trout was reportedly involved in a three-car accident after Wednesday's game but came away injury-free.
Angels general manager Billy Eppler said in a prepared statement late Wednesday night that he had spoken with Trout, who said he "feels fine," but no update Thursday was available as to Trout's status for the upcoming series.
That Trout was not seriously hurt comes as a huge sigh of relief to an Angels team that's well out of the postseason hunt but could still end up having the AL MVP. Trout, despite his team's struggles, is having another banner year as he ranks among the AL's top five in batting (.319), runs (102) and stolen bases (21). His .999 OPS ranks second to Boston's David Ortiz (1.022), while Trout has the AL's best WAR at 8.9.
His Angels have actually been playing pretty well as of late, as they carry a five-game winning streak into Seattle. Left-hander Brett Oberholtzer (3-2, 5.165 ERA) is scheduled to make his second start as an Angel on Friday after being claimed off waivers from Philadelphia. The former Houston Astros pitcher has a 4-0 record and a 0.75 ERA in four career appearances against Seattle, including an inning of relief for the Angels last month.
Los Angeles could also be using a new closer in this series, as Fernando Salas was traded to the Mets on Thursday. Salas had taken over for Joe Smith, who had taken over for injured closer Huston Street before being dealt to the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline.
Game: 1
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: September 02, 2016 10:10 PM EDT
SEATTLE -- Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels dodged another disastrous moment when the 25-year-old MVP candidate came out of a Wednesday night traffic accident unscathed.
For the Seattle Mariners, who host the Angels in a three-game series beginning Friday night, a recent road trip also felt like a car wreck.
While Trout and the Angels (59-64) let go of their postseason hopes a long time ago, the surprising Mariners have found a way to stay in the wild-card race for most of the season. Eight losses in nine games have put Seattle (68-65) four games back in a crowded race for the final American League wild-card spot, so it probably won't be long before the Mariners are just playing for pride again.
Coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of AL West-leading Texas, the Mariners saw their slim hopes of a division title go up in smoke and are calling in the firetrucks in terms of the AL wild-card race. Wednesday's 14-1 loss to the Rangers in the series finale felt like a splash of gasoline on a fire that had been burning for most of Seattle's 1-6 road trip.
"It was a rough trip," Mariners manager Scott Servais said after the loss and a series that saw Texas outscore Seattle 29-11. "There is no doubt."
Ace Felix Hernandez got touched up in the finale, another hit to a pitching staff that has seen veteran Hisashi Iwakuma fall on hard times and southpaw James Paxton get slowed by a torn fingernail.
No Seattle starter has had a rougher recent stretch than rookie Ariel Miranda, a 27-year-old left-hander who was acquired for veteran Wade Miley at the trade deadline but wasn't officially added to the full-time rotation until last week. Seattle's decision to DFA veteran Wade LeBlanc left Miranda, who is listed as Friday's probable starter, as a permanent member of the rotation -- then he struggled in four innings of work during a 9-3 loss to the White Sox over the weekend.
Thursday's roster expansion didn't provide much help to the struggling rotation, as Seattle activated veteran reliever Evan Scribner and added outfielder Ben Gamel in a trade with the Yankees.
The Angels could also make a series of post-Sept. 1 moves, but the most important one was the move Los Angeles didn't have to make. Trout was reportedly involved in a three-car accident after Wednesday's game but came away injury-free.
Angels general manager Billy Eppler said in a prepared statement late Wednesday night that he had spoken with Trout, who said he "feels fine," but no update Thursday was available as to Trout's status for the upcoming series.
That Trout was not seriously hurt comes as a huge sigh of relief to an Angels team that's well out of the postseason hunt but could still end up having the AL MVP. Trout, despite his team's struggles, is having another banner year as he ranks among the AL's top five in batting (.319), runs (102) and stolen bases (21). His .999 OPS ranks second to Boston's David Ortiz (1.022), while Trout has the AL's best WAR at 8.9.
His Angels have actually been playing pretty well as of late, as they carry a five-game winning streak into Seattle. Left-hander Brett Oberholtzer (3-2, 5.165 ERA) is scheduled to make his second start as an Angel on Friday after being claimed off waivers from Philadelphia. The former Houston Astros pitcher has a 4-0 record and a 0.75 ERA in four career appearances against Seattle, including an inning of relief for the Angels last month.
Los Angeles could also be using a new closer in this series, as Fernando Salas was traded to the Mets on Thursday. Salas had taken over for Joe Smith, who had taken over for injured closer Huston Street before being dealt to the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline.
