The Los Angeles Angels (34-30) face a tough test against Luis Castillo at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Friday when the impressive right-hander takes the mound for the Seattle Mariners (30-31) to open a three-game series.
The Mariners are in the midst of an eight-game road trip. They split their last series against the Padres, dropping the finale 10-3 on Wednesday at Petco Park. Jose Caballero added one RBI.
The Angels are amid a six-game homestand. They are coming off a three-game sweep of the Cubs, taking the finale 3-1 on Thursday at Angel Stadium of Anaheim for their fourth straight win. Jo Adell went 1 for 3 with a solo home run.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The Angels have won two of three in the season series between the AL West rivals, including a 4-3 victory in their most recent meeting on April 5 at T-Mobile Park.
Starter Shohei Ohtani went six innings, allowing one run on three hits and striking out eight, to get the win, and Jose Quijada earned his first save of the season with a scoreless ninth.
ON THE MOUND
Castillo (4-3, 2.55 ERA) is set to take the mound for Seattle. The right-hander allowed one run over seven innings in his last start, a 2-0 road defeat against the Rangers on June 2. He was charged with the loss, giving up five hits while striking out six and walking one.
Castillo has made one previous start against the Angels this season, an 11-2 home victory on April 4. He allowed two hits over 5.2 scoreless innings, striking out six and walking two.
Righty Ohtani (5-2, 3.30 ERA) takes the mound for Los Angeles. He has made one prior start against the Mariners this season, giving up one run over six innings in a 4-3 road win on April 5.
He gave up three hits and walked four while striking out eight in the win. In his last start on June 2, Ohtani took the loss on the road against the Astros.
He threw six innings and gave up five runs on nine hits, striking out six and walking one in the 6-2 defeat. The right-hander ranks second in the AL in strikeouts (96).
AT THE PLATE
The Seattle offense is averaging 4.3 runs per game for the season, with a slash line of .227/.306/.375. Jarred Kelenic leads the team in OPS at .821. The center fielder is slashing .269/.330/.491 with 10 home runs, 27 RBIs, and 27 runs over 58 games.
Over the last five games, though, Seattle has averaged only 3.2 runs a game while slashing worse across the board (.210/.277/.296). Against righties like Ohtani this season, the M’s have a .682 OPS.
J.P. Crawford is the team’s most productive hitter against right-handers with a .813 OPS in 131 at-bats. Los Angeles is slashing .257/.330/.428 for the season and averaging 4.8 runs per game.
Ohtani leads the team with a .894 OPS. He has 16 home runs, 42 RBIs, and 37 runs scored with a slash line of .274/.351/.544.
The Halos have a .747 OPS against right-handers in 2023. With a .957 OPS over 180 at-bats, Ohtani also has been their best hitter against right-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Seattle is 13-16 in away games in 2023, scoring 4.4 runs per game while allowing 4.9 runs. Los Angeles has won three in a row at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.
The Halos are 18-13 at home this season, averaging 4.9 runs per game while surrendering 4.8. Seattle is 6-4 in the last 10 games between the teams at Angel Stadium of Anaheim with an average scoreline of 5.3-3.5.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Mariners are fourth in the AL West, 10 games behind the division-leading Rangers. The Angels are third in the AL West, seven games behind the Rangers.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
LA Angels (-115)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
