Our Seattle Mariners just coughed up a 7-8 loss to the Athletics, adding another agonizing chapter to what’s become a brutal “California carousel of hell.” Fresh off two gutting losses in Sacramento, the M’s are heading south to Disneyland to face the Anaheim Angels, a team owned by someone other than Arte Moreno for the first time in over two decades. This three-game set kicks off Monday, September 14, at 6:38 pm.
The Numbers Don’t Lie… Or Do They?!
This is where it gets wild, man. Our M’s are crushing it at the plate, boasting a 102 wRC+ which puts them 6th in the AL. That’s elite hitting! So why are we still bleeding out losses and sitting at a pathetic 70-80 record? The answer might be staring us right in the face: our fielding. With a horrific -45 FRV, we’re dead last in the league at 15th. It’s like we’ve got an offense that can mash, but a defense that just can’t catch a cold. Our bullpen isn’t exactly saving the day either, with a 104 FIP- landing them at 10th. It just feels like one step forward, two steps back, even after the Angels dealt away some talent like Jo Adell and Jose Soriano.
Anaheim’s Misfits and M’s Opportunity
The Angels are a total mess at 56-93, accurately described as a “moribund bunch.” They’re atrocious defensively, hitting a meager 92 wRC+ (15th in AL), and strike out a boatload. But here’s the kicker: they actually have a decent pitching staff, despite those deadline deals. Guys like Zach Neto, Mike Trout, and Wade Meckler are their main threats, with Trout still putting up a 129 wRC+. They’ve been auditioning young players, finding some promise in Meckler, but it’s mostly “post-hype hopes” like Josh Lowe and Jose Siri that keep them going. Even Moisés Ballesteros, a formerly highly regarded prospect, hasn’t found his swing yet. This is a team we *should* handle, but given our recent form, nothing feels guaranteed.
Pitching Matchups We NEED To Win
The series kicks off Monday with our LHP Kade Anderson (4.29 ERA) squaring off against the Angels’ LHP Reid Detmers (3.32 ERA). The odds are actually against us for Game 1, with our M’s only having a 46.9% chance. That’s a gut punch before it even starts! Game 2 sees our ace RHP Logan Gilbert hit the mound against Angels RHP Ryan Johnson, and thankfully, we’ve got a 58.0% win probability there. Then, for the rubber match on Wednesday, RHP George Kirby takes on LHP Yusei Kikuchi, and we’re looking at a 52.8% win chance. We need to capitalize on those Gilbert and Kirby starts. We cannot afford to drop this series against a team that is, quite frankly, as bad as the Angels. It’s about pride, it’s about getting *something* positive to cling to.
Three games in Anaheim. Three chances to prove that our bats aren’t for nothing and that our fielding can, you know, actually field. Monday’s 6:38 pm first pitch with Anderson on the mound is a chance to stop the bleeding. After that A’s game, the Emerald City needs a win, or two, or all three. Let’s show this “carousel of hell” who’s boss and start turning this ship around, even if it’s late in the year.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Lookout Landing.
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