Angels at Mariners
The slumping Seattle Mariners have won just three of their last 15 games as they host the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday for the third contest of their four-game set. Seattle recorded a 4-3 victory in Friday's series opener to halt a three-game slide during which it allowed 28 runs.
Jay Bruce, who slugged his 300th career homer in Friday's victory, is struggling at home in his first season with the Mariners as he is batting just .151 - although nine of his 11 hits have been for extra bases (five homers, four doubles). "If you would have told me I would have hit my 300th home run playing first base for the Seattle Mariners, I would have told you you were crazy a long time ago," the 32-year-old Bruce said during a postgame interview. Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani hit back-to-back homers in the sixth inning on Friday for the Angels, who lost for just the second time in seven games. Ohtani has gone 6-for-18 with two walks over his last four contests to raise his average 24 points to .250.
TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, FOX
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels LH Andrew Heaney (0-0, 3.60 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Tommy Malone (1-1, 3.38)
Heaney is making his second start of the year after missing time with inflammation in his pitching elbow. Heaney, who turns 28 on Wednesday, settled for a no-decision against Texas in his season debut on Sunday, when he gave up two runs and two hits with eight strikeouts in five innings. Heaney went 0-2 with a 4.70 ERA in four starts against the Mariners last year and is 1-3 with a 3.76 ERA in seven career outings.
Milone allowed just two earned runs in each of his first two starts with the Mariners. The 32-year-old registered 13 strikeouts and issued just two walks over 10 2/3 innings in the outings, both of which were against the Rangers. Milone is 6-3 with a 5.54 ERA in 13 career starts versus the Angels and has been roughed up by Albert Pujols (11-for-25, seven doubles, one homer).
WALK-OFFS
1. Mariners CF Mallex Smith is hitless in seven at-bats with a stolen base in the series after going 7-for-12 with five steals, five RBIs and three runs in a three-run set against Texas.
2. Pujols (rest) was not in Friday's lineup but is expected to return Saturday.
3. Seattle 1B-DH Edwin Encarnacion (dental procedure) was scratched from Friday's lineup but should be available on Saturday.