It's already been a bit of a struggle for both the Los Angeles Angels (6-9, –3.54 betting units) and the Seattle Mariners (6-8, –3.84 units). One of these teams will inch closer to .500 when they meet Friday night in Anaheim. First pitch is at 10:05 PM ET on Fox Sports West.
This game features a very interesting pitching duel between Seattle's veteran ace, Felix Hernandez (3.16 FIP after three starts), and Angels prospect Nicholas Tropeano (2.49 FIP after two starts). Hernandez appears to be on the decline at age 30 after 10 straight seasons of 30 starts or more. Tropeano, a 25-year-old northpaw from New York, has quickly worked his way up to No. 2 in the injury-plagued LA rotation, striking out batters with a decent mix of junk pitches and nondescript fastballs.
Friday's game is also a battle between two front offices with two different mindsets. Mariners GM Jerry DiPoto held the same post with the Halos until he resigned last July when tensions mounted between himself and manager Mike Scioscia, who didn't appreciate DiPoto's analytics-based approach. The Angels now rank No. 28 in the majors in team hitting at .590 OPS, five spots below Seattle (.651 OPS).
MLB : Mariners-Angels in AL West Matchup
It'll be youth versus experience this Friday (10:05 PM ET, FSW) when Nicholas Tropeano and the Los Angeles Angels host Felix Hernandez and the Seattle Mariners in the first game of a three-game set. The Angels are 1-1 behind Tropeano this year, while Seattle has lost two of three with King Felix on the mound.
Hernandez is in the early stages of what could turn into a steep decline after logging 2280.1 innings with the Mariners (6-8, –3.84 units). Tropeano, on the other hand, is a 25-year-old fringe prospect for the Angels (6-9, –3.54 units) with an intriguing frisbee change-up.
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