Mariners at Angels
Former Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani and Yusei Kikuchi will have a highly anticipated showdown on Saturday, when Ohtani's Los Angeles Angels host Kikuchi's Seattle Mariners for the middle contest of their three-game series. Kikuchi will be the Mariners' starting pitcher while Los Angeles manager Brad Ausmus indicated that Ohtani will serve as the designated hitter for the duo's first meeting in the major leagues.
The 24-year-old Ohtani and 27-year-old Kikuchi attended the same high school in Japan, but not at the same time, before having standout careers and eventually making the move to the major leagues. Ohtani was recovering from elbow surgery the first time Kikuchi started against the Angels this season and wasn't in the lineup on the second occasion. "I'm excited. It's going to be a big moment for Japanese fans, and American fans as well," Kikuchi told reporters through an interpreter. "It will be very exciting for everyone back home." Domingo Santana clubbed two solo homers in the series opener as Seattle posted a 6-2 victory for just its fifth win in 22 games, while the loss was the fourth in five contests for the Angels.
TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, MLB Network, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), FS West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH Yusei Kikuchi (3-3, 4.43 ERA) vs. Angels LH Dillon Peters (0-0, 3.00)
Kikuchi had his last start skipped in hopes of refreshing his arm after two straight poor performances. He lasted just 3 1/3 innings each in back-to-back losses to Oakland and the Angels, allowing 11 runs and 20 hits. Kikuchi defeated Los Angeles on April 20, when he gave up four runs and 10 hits over five frames.
Peters will be recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake to be the primary pitcher, but the Angels may opt to use an "opener" before his entry. The 26-year-old gave up one run in three relief appearances for the Angels earlier this season and is 2-1 with a 4.58 ERA in eight starts at Salt Lake. "He's been pitching really well recently," Ausmus told reporters. "I talked to (Salt Lake manager) Lou Marson about him. Had one bad outing a few starts ago, but other than that, pitched really, really well."
WALK-OFFS
1. Angels CF Mike Trout nearly missed his 37th career homer against the Mariners in the opener as his line-drive bullet smacked the left-field wall, failing to clear by about two feet.
2. Seattle OF Mitch Haniger (testicle) underwent surgery and was placed on the 10-day injured list, RHP Tayler Scott was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma and OF Braden Bishop (spleen) was released from the hospital.
3. Los Angeles activated C Kevan Smith from the 7-day concussion list, recalled INF Wilfredo Tovar from Triple-A Salt Lake, optioned RHP Jaime Barria to the Bees and designated C Dustin Garneau for assignment.