The Angels were swept in Texas over the weekend which halted a very solid run of 12-4 in their previous 16 games leading up to that three-game series. The Rangers are playing great right now so the sweep cannot be considered all that surprising. Los Angeles now gets to face a team that is going the opposite directions. Despite a series win against the Red Sox, the Mariners have cooled off considerably following a very hot start. Seattle is just 6-14 over its last 20 games and it has not won back-to-back games since April 24th and 25th as it has gone 0-6 in its last six games following a victory. The Angels send John Lackey to the hill who will be making his first start of the season. He did toss two pitches on Saturday before getting ejected for throwing at Ian Kinsler but that certainly does not constitute a real start. Lackey had spent six weeks recovering from a strained right forearm before making a couple rehab stats prior to getting back with the big club. He is 10-8 in his career against the Mariners with a 3.90 ERA in 22 starts and he is 7-5 at Safeco Field with a 2.79 ERA in 13 starts. He did not face the Mariners last season and that actually helps his situation here. He faces off against Jarrod Washburn who has been solid for the most part in the early part of the season. He has a very good 3.11 ERA and 1.14 WHIP though seven starts but the Mariners are just 3-4 in those games. Seattle is averaging 3.6 rpg so that is part of the problem for a lack of wins. His worst start this season came against the Angels which was no surprise as he has struggled against his former club. He is 5-6 with a 4.62 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in 12 starts including allowing six runs in 5.1 innings back on April 26th. The Angels are 24-8 in Lackey’s last 32 road starts against a team with a losing record while the Mariners are 5-14 in Washburn’s last 19 home starts. The Angels are 6-0 in Lackey’s last six starts against the Mariners and they have won eight of the last 11 meetings in Seattle.
I take LA Angels win with handicap.