Angels vs Mariners Preview: Deep Pitching Duel Friday

The Mariners just beat the Angels 8-3 and 6-2 in their last two games. Seattle's pitching staff is absolutely firing on all cylinders right now. Bryce Miller takes the mound Friday with a sparkling 2.23 ERA. He's struck out 34 batters and given up almost nothing to opposing hitters. The Mariners' rotation is one of baseball's best from top to bottom. Meanwhile, the Angels are 36-51 and struggling badly. They've lost their last two games to Seattle. Their pitching has been shaky, letting runners score on wild pitches and walks. The Angels desperately need to find their rhythm against this powerful Mariners staff on Friday night.

The Angels are banged up heading into Friday's matchup. Star center fielder Mike Trout is dealing with a hamstring injury. He's been limited to light swing work and isn't ready yet. Grayson Rodriguez, a key starter, is also sidelined with back issues. He's doing rehab work but isn't available for this game. Yusei Kikuchi is out too with shoulder inflammation. The Angels' pitching depth is being tested right now. Walbert Urena gets the start Friday for Los Angeles. Without their usual weapons, the Angels face an uphill battle against Seattle's powerful lineup and dominant pitching staff.

Look at what happened in Seattle's last two wins. The Angels' pitchers were wild and gave up easy runs. In game one, wild pitches let multiple Mariners score in the sixth inning. Salvador Perez, Willie Calhoun, and Julio Rodríguez all found their way around the bases. Kyle Schwarber also contributed with clutch hits. In game two, the Mariners banged out homers from Kyle Young and Brenton Canzone. The Mariners are rolling right now on a 2-game winning streak. Their bats keep working. Their pitching dominates. The Angels can't seem to stop the bleeding. Friday's game shapes up as another chance for Seattle's hot team to take control of this series.