The Los Angeles Angels (13-12, 7-8 away) and the Seattle Mariners (15-13, 7-6 home) conclude a three-game series between American League West opponents. Seattle won the opener on Friday (7-4), while the Angels bounced back to take Saturday’s contest (10-5).
Sunday’s rubber match is at 4:10 p.m. EST inside T-Mobile Park in Seattle, WA. The Angels are favored on the money line (-140), and the run total is 8.5.
What to Know – Los Angeles Angels
The Angels come into Sunday’s series finale winners of four of their last six, fighting their way back over .500. With a victory, the Angeles will take their second series in a row over AL opponents. The Angels currently sit in fourth place in the AL West.
Right-hander Dylan Bundy (0-2, 4.20 ERA, 1.10 WHIP) takes the mound for the Angels. Bundy is still in search of his first win of the 2021 season. The 28-year old logged a no-decision his last time out, pitching 6.0 innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits, one walk, while striking out six.
Los Angeles averages 5.0 runs per game and leads the majors in batting average (.265). All-Star Mike Trout has been an absolute monster at the plate, hitting .429 with seven home runs, 16 RBI, and 20 runs scored. Shohei Ohtani leads the team in homers (8), and first baseman Jared Walsh paces the Angels with 21 RBI.
What to Know – Seattle Mariners
Seattle has kicked off the 2021 champaign as a slight surprise after many projected the Mariners to finish near the bottom of the AL West. The Mariners haven’t played well as of late, dropping five of their last seven. Seattle is in third place in the standings, just 1.0 game out of first.
The Mariners counter on the mound with Justus Sheffield (1-2, 5.32 ERA, 1.59 WHIP. The relief pitcher turned starter has logged 22.0 innings on the mound this season, allowing 13 earned runs and striking out 20. In Sheffield’s last outing, the 24-year old surrendered four earned runs on a season-high 12 hits.
Offensively, Seattle scored 4.2 runs per game behind a .211 team batting average. Outfielder Mitch Haniger is back to being healthy after missing considerable time over the last two seasons and has a team-high seven home runs and nine runs scored. Haniger is also tied with third baseman Kyle Seager with 20 runs driven in.
The Pick is In
The Angels’ offense should have no problem getting runners on base against the young Sheffield. Bundy, who has posted four quality starts this season, will keep the Mariners hitters at bay.
Seattle has had success against Angels pitchers this weekend and will need to do so again Sunday. Sheffield is a talented pitching prospect but does not have the experience to take on the talented Angels order.
Bundy secures his first win of the season, and the Angels take the series over the Mariners.
The Pick: Los Angeles Angels -1.5
