The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim had a heavenly regular season in 2014 as they finished 98-64, the best record in MLB. Unfortunately, things didn’t quite pan out in the postseason, where they were unceremoniously swept by the Kansas City Royals.
The Angels begin the defense of their division title against the team tipped to take it away from them, the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners added another big bat to complement their terrific pitching led by Felix Hernandez, who starts on the mound tonight. Can King Felix and the M’s lay down the early marker by beating the Halos on Opening Day? Read on as we preview this AL West showdown.
Want/need more from MLB’s Opening Day? Check out our preview of the Indians vs. Astros and the Giants vs. Diamondbacks.
[sc:MLBArticles ]
Los Angeles Angels vs. Seattle Mariners Preview
Where: Safeco Field, Seattle
When: Monday, April 6, 4:10 PM ET
Line: Los Angeles Angels (+135) at Seattle Mariners (-150); total 6.5 – view all MLB lines
Betting on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Angels were MLB’s best regular season team last season in large part because they were also MLB’s highest scoring offense. That powerful lineup had two notable changes during the offseason. Second baseman Howie Kendrick was traded to the Dodgers, while left fielder Josh Hamilton had a drug relapse and won’t be making an appearance on the field any time soon.
[sc:MLB240banner ]Their replacements, Johnny Giavotella and Collin Cowgill, are nowhere near the hitters Kendrick and Hamilton are, and could severely weaken the bottom third of the Angels’ order.
Nevertheless, the Angels still boast a formidable lineup headed by Mike Trout, who had 36 HRs and 111 RBIs last year to claim his very first AL MVP. Trout is one of the few people on the planet that can claim any semblance of success against Hernandez. He has hit .367 in 49 career at-bats against King Felix, with two homers and 11 RBIs.
And on the mound, Jered Weaver takes the ball first for the Angels. Weaver was one of LA’s most reliable starters last year. He pitched in 34 games and went 18-9 with a 3.59 ERA. He went six innings in all four meetings against the Mariners last season and allowed between two to four runs, so the Angels’ bullpen will most likely come into play.
Relievers Joe Smith, Huston Street, Fernando Salas and Mike Morin were lights out against Seattle last season, combining for just one earned run allowed in 17.2 innings pitched. Meanwhile, Fernando Salas allowed half of the 10 runs he gave up in 10 games against the Mariners in just one game.
Expectations have been set for the Seattle Mariners this season, and they are pretty high. After coming very close to reaching the postseason as a wild card last season, they’re actually the +140 favorites to make it as the AL West champions this year.
The Mariners added some much needed pop to their lineup by signing Nelson Cruz, who led the majors with 40 homers last season. Cruz joins fellow Dominican Robinson Cano, who hit .314 with 14 homers and 82 RBIs in his first year in Seattle, and emerging star third baseman Kyle Seager (25 HRs, 96 RBIs) at the heart of the Mariners order.
However, it’s worth noting that Cruz, Cano and Seager have just two home runs and 12 RBIs in 138 combined at-bats against Weaver, so other parts of the Mariners lineup will need to come up with timely hits.
But the Mariners won’t need to score very many runs with ace Felix Hernandez on the mound. King Felix had another glittering season in 2014, (15-6, 2.14 ERA), but he saved his very best for the Angels. Seattle went 5-0 against LA in the games King Felix started. He gave up just three earned runs in 34 innings (0.79 ERA) with 47 strikeouts.
Moreover, Hernandez has gone 5-0 with a 1.34 ERA and 55 K’s in eight career season openers. The Mariners have gone 7-1 in those eight games.
Writer’s Prediction
Hernandez outduels Weaver as the Mariners draw first blood with a 4-1 win.
