Mike Trout calling out Mariners for hit-by-pitches might as well be a warning

The good news for the Los Angeles Angels is that Mike Trout is OK. Understandably, though, he's not happy after suffering two hit-by-pitches during this past weekend's series with the Seattle Mariners, the second of which knocked him out of Sunday's game.

Trout was up with a runner on third and one out in the eighth when Casey Legumina pitched him up and in with a 94.2 mph fastball. It clanked off his left hand, causing immediate pain and forcing the three-time MVP out of the game.

The Angels went on to take the game and the series, and X-rays on Trout's hand came back negative. He's day-to-day with a contusion. Yet after what he had to say about getting hit, you wonder if there could be beef cooking for the next time the Mariners and Angels face each other.

“We know where they're trying to get me out, fastballs up and in, so it's just frustrating,” Trout said, via MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger. “You know, if you can't control it up there, you shouldn't do it. So it is what it is."

Mariners should probably be wary of retaliation after angering Mike Trout

Just for context, the first plunking of Trout — a noted Mariners nemesis — in the series was in the first inning on Friday night against Bryan Woo, who had buzzed him up and in even before he clanked a 95 mph fastball off Trout's left shoulder.

Trout's immediate reaction made it clear he was not pleased, as he glared out in Woo's direction before tossing his bat aside and taking his base.

For what it's worth, Woo did apologize to Trout during the game. The right-hander also had plausible deniability on his side. Far from some kind of effectively wild pitcher, he's a command artist whose ability to spot a fastball is on par with anyone's. Those two pitches probably did slip.

Even so, Reid Detmers also had one "slip" when he threw behind Julio Rodríguez in the third inning. The lefty claimed it was an accident, but Julio seemed to know what was up via a staredown of his own.

Ideally, that would have been the extent of the hot water. But Seattle clearly did have a plan to pitch Trout up and in, and that plan was simply in the wrong hands as soon as he was in the box against Legumina. He's nowhere near Woo's level as a command artist, and indeed has had the worst command of any Mariners pitcher so far in 2026.

Beyond that, Seattle hurlers frankly have been a little too fast and loose with pitching inside in 2026. Despite having the fewest walks (21) of any staff, they're also second in the majors with six hit-by-pitches. Four of those have been with fastballs, including one from Luis Castillo that drilled Josh Lowe in the side earlier on Sunday.

So yeah, Mariners hitters might want to armor up the next time they face the Angels from June 29 through July 2. If the Angels want to have Trout's back, it could be payback time.