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Los Angeles Angels at Seattle Mariners

By JR·2 min read
Los Angeles AngelsLAA(62-98)
Seattle MarinersSEA(74-86)
AT
6:40 PM PT

TLDR: The Angels showed up in Seattle with 62 wins, got swept by the Athletics on the way in, and have somehow won the first 2 of this set anyway. The Mariners are 74-86 and home at T-Mobile Park tonight, with their best pitching prospect on the mound.

SUN SEP 27, 6:40 PM
Spread
WIN
Total
Angels
(62-98)
WWLLL
Mariners
(74-86)
LLWLW

The Angels have won the first 2 games of this series in Seattle behind 13 runs. Tonight Ryan Johnson, who has been better lately than his 4.93 ERA suggests, faces top prospect Kade Anderson, who is coming off 7 scoreless innings at Coors. Seattle is the clear favorite, but Andres Munoz joined an already long bullpen injury list on Friday, so the late innings could swing it.

Angels
  • Won first 2 of the set, 6-4 and 7-5
  • Johnson: 1 ER or fewer in 4 of last 6
  • Johnson beat Seattle 2-1 on September 15
  • Were swept by Athletics, 0-2, entering this set
  • Johnson roughed up by Twins in last start
  • Joyce, Schanuel, Moncada, Rendon all unavailable
Mariners
  • Anderson: 7 scoreless innings, 0 walks at Coors
  • Anderson had a 1.06 ERA over 18 Double-A starts
  • Home at T-Mobile Park, roof available
  • Munoz placed on 15-day IL Friday
  • Lost 2 straight, allowing 13 runs to the Angels
  • Rodden (knee) out, infield depth thin

Ryan Johnson (5-9, 4.93) faces rookie lefty Kade Anderson (2-2, 4.18) at 6:40 PM PT. Johnson's ERA hides the fact that he's been good lately. He carried a 7.63 ERA early in the year, but he's allowed 1 earned run or fewer in 4 of his last 6 starts. One of those was a 6-inning, 7-strikeout, 0-walk outing in a 2-1 win in Seattle in mid-September. Anderson is the reason to tune in. He dominated Double-A with a 1.06 ERA over 18 starts, and last time out he threw 7 scoreless innings at Coors Field on 84 pitches with no walks.

Ryan Johnson
Ryan Johnson
(5-9)·4.93 ERA
Sep 20 vs Twins
L
4.2IP
3ER
6K
0BB
91P
09/26 Lineup
Kade Anderson
Kade Anderson
(2-2)·4.18 ERA
Sep 20 @ Rockies
W
7.0IP
0ER
7K
0BB
84P
09/26 Lineup

Seattle's late innings got thinner on Friday. Andres Munoz went on the 15-day IL with right knee inflammation, and he joins Matt Brash, Nick Davila and Cole Wilcox on a long list of relievers who are out. Brock Rodden's patella tendon took another infielder out of the lineup on Thursday. The Angels have their own problems: Ben Joyce is out with a shoulder impingement, and Nolan Schanuel, Yoan Moncada and Anthony Rendon won't play again this year. Even so, the board makes Seattle a heavy favorite.

There's less on the line than the matchup suggests. The Mariners came within 1 win of the World Series last season. This year they clinched their first losing full season since 2019 with a 2-1 loss to these same Angels on September 15, when Josh Lowe's solo homer in the 5th decided it. With a week left, the only things these 2 teams are playing for are pride and a look at a few young players.

This series has been nothing like that low-scoring game. The Angels won the first 2 in Seattle 6-4 and 7-5, so 22 runs have crossed the plate in 2 nights. Seattle has lost 2 straight, and the 3 losses in its last 5 games include a 7-0 shutout by Houston. The Angels arrived after getting swept by the Athletics, 0-2, and have won 2 straight since.

Los Angeles Angels
(62-98)
09/25W@Mariners7-5
09/24W@Mariners6-4
09/23L@Athletics3-7
09/22L@Athletics7-9
09/20LvsTwins0-8
Seattle Mariners
(74-86)
09/25LvsAngels5-7
09/24LvsAngels4-6
09/23WvsAstros6-5
09/22LvsAstros0-7
09/20W@Rockies2-1

Johnson's last start is the warning. The Twins got 7 hits and 3 runs off him in 4.2 innings, and he needed 91 pitches to get that far. He doesn't walk hitters, so the question is whether Seattle strings hits together or makes early outs against a pitcher who throws strikes. Anderson's question is simpler. He's a rookie facing a lineup that has hit Seattle's staff hard for 2 nights, and a short start means a bullpen without its closer covers the last 4 innings.

Los Angeles Angels
(10)
  • 10-Day-ILNolan Schanuel (1B) — Schanuel (side) returned from his rehab assignment Friday and isn't expected to get activated from the injured list before the end of the season.09/18
  • 10-Day-ILKyren Paris (2B) — The Angels recalled Paris from Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday.09/18
  • 10-Day-ILGustavo Campero (OF) — Campero (hamstring) isn't expected to play again this season.09/13
  • 15-Day-ILBen Joyce (RP) — The Angels placed Joyce on the 15-day injured list Thursday, retroactive to Sept. 21, due to right shoulder impingement.09/24
  • 15-Day-ILGeorge Klassen (SP) — Klassen (back) is unlikely to return this season.09/19
  • 15-Day-ILSamy Natera Jr. (RP) — The Angels reinstated Natera (back) from the 15-day injured list Tuesday.09/16
  • 60-Day-ILYoan Moncada (3B) — Moncada (knee) isn't expected to play again this season.09/13
  • 60-Day-ILJack Kochanowicz (SP) — Kochanowicz's Tommy John surgery on his right elbow was deemed "successful," per MLB.com.06/27
  • 60-Day-ILRobert Stephenson (RP) — Stephenson underwent ligament and flexor repair surgery on his right elbow Wednesday and is likely to miss the remainder of the season.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILAnthony Rendon (3B) — The Angels placed Rendon (hip) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.05/08
Seattle Mariners
(12)
  • 7-Day ILBrendan Donovan (3B) — Donovan continues to experience concussion symptoms.09/03
  • 10-Day-ILBrock Rodden (SS) — The Mariners placed Rodden on the 10-day injured list Thursday with left patella tendon inflammation.09/24
  • 15-Day-ILNewAndres Munoz (RP) — The Mariners placed Munoz on the 15-day injured list Friday with right knee inflammation.09/26
  • 15-Day-ILEmerson Hancock (SP) — Seattle placed Hancock (groin) on the 15-day injured list Sunday with a left adductor strain, retroactive to Aug. 29.08/30
  • 15-Day-ILCole Wilcox (RP) — Wilcox left Thursday's game versus the Tigers due to left oblique tightness.08/07
  • 60-Day-ILNick Davila (RP) — The Mariners placed Davila on the 15-day injured list Monday with a right SC joint sprain in his shoulder.09/06
  • 60-Day-ILMatt Brash (RP) — Brash has been shut down from throwing for eight weeks after an MRI revealed more inflammation in his lat.09/05
  • 60-Day-ILBrennen Davis (CF) — The Mariners recalled Davis (hamstring) from Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday and placed him on the 60-day injured list.09/03
  • 60-Day-ILColt Emerson (SS) — The Mariners transferred Emerson (wrist) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.08/31
  • 60-Day-ILLuke Raley (RF) — The Mariners transferred Raley (forearm) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.08/19
  • 60-Day-ILWill Wilson (3B) — Wilson (thumb) has gone 3-for-9 with two RBI and a 1:2 BB:K in his first three rehab games between High-A Everett and Triple-A Tacoma.06/17
  • 60-Day-ILLogan Evans (SP) — The Mariners placed Evans (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Monday.05/08

Seattle has the better starter and the more interesting young arm. The Angels have the momentum in this series and a starter who has been better than his ERA. With 2 depleted bullpens, the 7th and 8th innings are likely to decide this one.

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