Seattle Mariners Series Preview: v. LA Angels

It’s time to win.

Matchups

Game one: Jered Weaver (18-8, 3.52 ERA) v. Hisashi Iwakuma (14-9, 3.54 ERA)

Weaver is currently rocking the AL lead with 18 wins on the season, though he’s also thrown 207 innings already this season, his most since 2011. He was also reported to have been a little sick earlier this week and there are still rumors of him getting pushed to tomorrow. With the Angels having already clinched the division, expect him to be on a short leash, if we see him at all.

Kuma is coming off of his third straight loss, something he has never done in his MLB career. In one of those starts in Anaheim he went only 3.1 innings and gave up 7 runs on 8 hits. His season has taken a terrible turn since a poor 2 inning start in Boston in August, and he hasn’t been able to get back on track since.

Game two: Cory Rasmus (3-1, 2.38 ERA) v. James Paxton (6-4, 3,03 ERA)

The Mariners saw Rasmus a few weeks ago and ended up winning that game 13-2. However, Rasmus certainly wasn’t the Angels’ problem that day. He pitched 4.0 innings of one-hit ball and saw his bullpen absolutely blow it for him. Rasmus is making his 6th start of the season after coming out of the bullpen to replace Garrett Richards. Rasmus is on a pitch count of 60 and won’t go deeper than 4 innings.

Paxton was absolutely annihilated in his last start in Toronto. He faced 20 batters over 2.2 innings and gave up 7 hits and 6 walks. He was tagged for 8 earned runs and took the eventual loss. That was the first time he’s been chased in his young MLB career, so it’s nothing to be concerned about, it just happened at a poor time. Paxton has a 2-1 record against the Angels this season.

Game three: C.J. Wilson (13-10, 4.61 ERA) v. Felix Hernandez (14-6, 2.34 ERA)

Wilson is leading the AL in walks on the season (82), something he’s notorious for. When he saw the Mariners a few weeks ago he gave up 3 over 7 innings. Wilson is also coming off of his worst start of the season, where he went only 0.2 innings and gave up 4 walks and 2 hits (6 runs) to the A’s. The M’s need to capitalize on any mistakes that he makes and push some runs across.

Felix proved that he is in fact human in his last start in Toronto. It was his worst, and shortest start of the season after he gave up 8 runs over 4.2 innings. That said, he still looks like the favorite for the AL Cy-Young, and he’s been an Angel’s destroying machine this season going 2-0 with an 0.94 ERA against them on the season.

Series Notes

• I laid out all the Mariners’ playoff scenarios here, so there’s definitely still an opening to get some October ball this year.
• Angels clinch home field throughout the playoffs with their next win or an Orioles loss. So if the Jays beat the O’s before tonight’s game, there will be nothing for the Angels to play for anymore.
• I was listening to the Texas/Oakland game on the radio last night, and the Oakland commentators are starting to panic. The A’s left a bunch of runners in scoring position last night and their fans are just as frustrated as we are at the minute. As their September skid continues (they are 7-15 so far this month), they leave us hope in the Northwest.
• The Mariners are 9-7 against the Angels this season, outscoring them by a total of 20 runs.
• Friday is Fan Appreciation night at Safeco, a tradition for me. But this year the game holds a little bit more value as it might actually mean something. Get to the field.
• Also on Friday, the Mariners are presenting Kyle Seager with the Mariners Heart and Hustle Award. The MLB Alumni Association selects a player from each team who embodies the values, spirit and tradition of the game. The final award will be selected from the 30 team winners.
• Also Friday, the M’s will be presenting their Mariners player of the year award, hitter of the year award and unsung-hero.

Wild Card Roundup

As I said, I wrapped up everything that needs to happen for the M’s here. But here’s what else is going on around the Wild Card race this weekend.

• KC will be wrapping up a 4 game set aginast the White Sox in Chicago. They won yesterday, meaning any more wins will clinch a playoff birth for them. The Sox are looking to turn it around at the end of the season, they’ve now lost 4 straight.
• Oakland is in the middle of their own 4 gamer against the Rangers. The A’s are 3-7 in their last 10, and they were swept by the Rangers only a week ago at home.
• Cleveland is hosting the Rays to close down their season. They need quite a few miracles over the weekend to keep their hopes alive. But at the very least they’ve improved upon last season.
• How about Derek Jeter?