Mariners Head to Anaheim With Series Lead, Hancock Takes the Ball in Game 2
The Seattle Mariners are heading into Saturday night's matchup in Anaheim sitting pretty with a 1-0 series lead after taking game one, 3-1, on Friday. Now comes game two, and the Mariners are looking to keep the momentum rolling against a Los Angeles Angels team that's struggling early.
Two Very Different Starting Pitchers
This is where things get interesting. Emerson Hancock takes the mound for Seattle at 1-0 with a pristine 0.00 ERA and a 0.17 WHIP through his early outings. The guy has nine strikeouts already and he's barely got warm. Meanwhile, the Angels are countering with Jack Kochanowicz, who is 0-0 but carrying an 11.25 ERA and a 2.25 WHIP. Yeah, you read that right. If you're a Mariners fan, this is exactly the kind of matchup you want to see right now.
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Seattle comes into this series at 4-4 on the season, sitting right at .500 in the AL West. The Mariners had a solid 90-72 record last year and maintained a 39-42 mark on the road. Their pitching staff averaged 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings a season ago while giving up just 4.3 runs per game. The Angels, on the other hand, are struggling at 3-5. They went 72-90 overall last year with a 39-42 home record, and that offensive inconsistency has carried over. They averaged 7.5 hits per game last season, batted .225, and slugged just .397.
The health situation matters too. The Angels have seven players on the injured list, including closer Kirby Yates (knee) and multiple arms dealing with various issues. The Mariners have five players dealing with injuries, though none of the names are central to the lineup at the moment.
Game Time and What's Next
First pitch Saturday night at Angel Stadium is 9:38 p.m. EDT. This is a chance for the Mariners to grab a 2-0 series advantage before heading home. The way Hancock's throwing the ball right now, Seattle has every reason to feel confident about their chances tonight.
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