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Series Preview: Mariners @ Angels (Verge of history)

Angels return home for a 7-game set with giveaways galore to help you forget about the on-field product

By Jessica DeLine
Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

You want giveaways?  They got em!  Over this 4-game series, you can get a Panama Golf Hat, Ducks/Angels Hat, Eco Tote Bag, and a Hello Kitty Plush Toy.  I don't think those giveaways help ease the pain of a horrible season being flushed down a very deep drain, but I guess they might help put more fans in the seats.

The Angels recent losing streak has dropped them in the standings faster than a Yunel Escobar bad throw.  Meanwhile, the Seattle Mariners have leap frogged the Houston Astros and are now in second place in the AL West.  The Halos are now 19 games behind the Rangers, 15.5 back in the wildcard standings, and on pace for around 94 losses.  The Angels have never lost more than 95 games in one season, and they are on pace to potentially tie that record.  Mike Scioscia's worst season as a manager was way back in 2001 when the team lost 87 games - a record they are on pace to shatter.

Since August 1st, the Angels have the worst batting average in baseball at a measly .206, with only 44 runs scored (also the worst).  Seattle has scored 55 runs in that time with a .251 team average.  Not surprisingly, the Angels also have the worst ERA in August (6.84), along with the fewest Ks by pitchers.  The Mariners have the second best ERA in baseball since August 1st at 2.83, trailing only the Cubs.

Seattle swept the Angels back in early August and a sweep this time around would break their worst losing streak of all time which stands at 13 games. That streaks carried over two seasons from 1988-1989.  If you are looking at longest single season losing streak, that stands at 11 and was accomplished in 1974, 1992, and 1999.  There is a VERY real possibility the Angels tie that streak in this series, and possibly break it.

The Mariners haven't announced their pitchers for games 2-4 yet, so I'll update this article when they do.

Biggest question: What kind of horribly bad record are the Angels going to break in this series?

Game 1

Ricky Nolasco vs. Felix Hernandez
Monday, Aug 15th, 2016 @ 7:05PM

Mike Trout continues to show Hernandez who the King is

Ricky Nolasco v. Mariners Current Roster (Career)
AB H BAA K% HR FIP
94 28 .298 18.6 4 4.52
Felix Hernandez v. Angels Current Roster (Career)
AB H BAA K% HR FIP
300 71 .237 25.2 9 3.32
Players/Stats to watch:
Mike Trout v. Felix Hernadez (Last 5 years)
AB H RBI HR BA
75 28 18 6 .373
Cliff Pennington v. Felix Hernandez (Last 5 years)
AB H RBI HR BA
32 10 2 1 .313
Nelson Cruz v. Ricky Nolasco (Last 5 years)
AB H RBI HR BA
10 3 3 2 .300
Chris Iannetta v. Ricky Nolasco (Last 5 years)
AB H RBI HR BA
7 3 5 0 .429
In some ways, Ricky Nolasco has been very consistent in his two starts as an Angels.  Both times he pitched 6 innings and both times he allowed 6 hits.  Both time he induced exactly 11 fly balls.  Nolasco was not great in his Halo debut, but last time out he had a quality start and allowed only 2 runs against the Cubs while striking out 6.  As a member of the Twins, he beat the Mariners back on May 29th, striking out 7 and allowing only 2 runs over 6 innings.
Felix Hernandez is actually 1-2 against the Halos in 2016, and has allowed 10 runs over 3 games and 22.1 innings, which is a 4.07 ERA.  He's also allowed 4 homeruns (2 to Trout, 1 to Bandy, and 1 to Pennington).  Despite that, Hernadez has a 3.39 ERA on the season.  He hasn't lost a start since coming back from the DL on July 20th and is 2-0 with three no decisions in those 5 starts.

VERDICT: The Angels have done well against Hernandez this year and Nolasco has already been the Mariners once.  Still, this is a tough game to call and the Angels may have a shot at tying their single season losing streak record..
Game 2
Jhoulys Chacin vs. Ariel Miranda
Tuesday, Aug 16th, 2016 @ 7:05PM
Chacin again, because - who else?

Jhoulys Chacin v.Mariners Current Roster (Career)
AB H BAA K HR BB
45 9 .200 5 4 2
Players/Stats to watch:
Norichikia Aoki v. Carlos Carrasco (Last 5 years)
AB H RBI HR BA
14 4 3 4 .286
Jhoulys Chacin is fresh off the worst/shortest start of his career (as a starter).  He allowed 7 ER and 6 hits in just 1.1 innings of work against the Indians.  Chacin hasn't shown the ability to start games most of this year and has a 6.56 ERA, .304 BAA, and 1.667 WHIP as a starter.
Miranda has pitched 9 innings over 3 games in his entire MLB career.  He's only started one game and that was against Boston on August 4th.  He gave up just 2 runs on 8 hits in 6 innings.  The Angels don't have  great track record with rookie pitchers this year.
VERDICT: I don't hold much confidence in a Chacin start, and Cy Rookie keeps showing up for the Angels so I say this game leans Mariners.
Game 3
Tyler Skaggs vs. TBD
Wednesday, Aug 17th, 2016 @ 7:05PM

Skaggs looking to bounce back

Tyler Skaggs v. Mariners Current Roster (Career)
AB H BAA K HR BB
52 16 .308 13 3 3
TBD v. Angels Current Roster (Career)
AB H BAA K% HR FIP








Players/Stats to watch:
Kyle Seager v. Tyler Skaggs (Last 5 years)
AB H RBI HR BA
9 4 1 1 .444
Robinson Cano v. Tyler Skaggs (Last 5 years)
AB H RBI HR BA
7 4 3 0 .571
Skaggs came back to the Angels with a vengeance and started off with 12.1 scoreless innings.  Unfortunately, over his next 10.1 innings, he gave up 11 runs and 3 homeruns.  Skaggs was rocked in Cleveland last week to the tune of 7 runs over 5 innings, so he'll be looking to bounce back at home in Anaheim on Wednesday.
VERDICT: I think Skaggs will bounce back.  Let's see who he's up against.
Game 4

Matt Shoemaker vs. TBD
Thursday, Aug 18th, 2016 @ 7:05PM

Tough one for the Weave

Matt Shoemaker v. Mariners Current Roster (Career)
AB HR BAA K BB
123 6 .268 24 4
TBD v. Angels Current Roster (Career)
AB H BAA K% HR FIP







Players/Stats to watch:
Nelson Cruz v. Matt Shoemaker (Last 5 years)
AB H RBI HR BA
17 6 4 1 .353
Seth Smith v. Matt Shoemaker (Last 5 years)
AB H RBI HR BA
14 5 2 2 .357
Leonys Martin v. Matt Shoemaker (Last 5 years)
AB H RBI HR BA
17 7 3 1 .412

Matt Shoemaker was completely dominate from May through June, but has fallen backwards a bit.  He has a 5.19 ERA over his last 4 starts and now has 16 losses on the year (though many of them were the fault of his lack of run support).  Shoemaker has lost twice to the Mariners this year with 3 runs allowed in his last game on August 7th, and 6 allowed way back in April when he only last 3 innings.

VERDICT: Will need to see the matchup before we call this one.

OVERALL VERDICT: The Angels are not playing like a team who is going to win this series, a split or one win may be a more likely scenario.

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