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Mariners vs. Angels: Can Seattle Shut Down LA’s Firepower?
Mariners vs. Angels Series Preview: A Beginner’s Guide to What’s Going On
Welcome to the Drama!
Imagine you’re standing on a stage in front of a huge, angry crowd. Everyone is yelling at once — some are shouting about coaches, some are throwing food, and some are even tossing stuffed animals at you. That’s basically what it feels like to be a Mariners fan right now. The team has been struggling, and the fans are loud about it.
But here’s the good news: the Mariners are about to play the Angels, and the Angels have been having a really rough season. This is a chance for the Mariners to turn things around!
At a Glance: The Series Schedule
Here’s when and where the games are happening:
| Game | Time | Mariners Starter | Angels Starter | Mariners Win% | Angels Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Monday, June 29 | 6:40 pm | RHP George Kirby | RHP Ryan Johnson | 66.2% | 33.8% |
| Game 2 | Tuesday, June 30 | 6:40 pm | RHP Bryan Woo | RHP José Soriano | 63.0% | 37.0% |
| Game 3 | Wednesday, July 1 | 1:00 pm | Bryce Miller | Walbert Ureña | 59.0% | 41.0% |
| Game 4 | Thursday, July 2 | 6:40 pm | TBD | TBD | 65.2% | 34.8% |
Important Point: The "Win%" numbers are predictions based on how the teams and pitchers have been performing. The Mariners are favored to win every single game in this series!
Team Overview: Who’s Better at What?
Let’s break down how the two teams compare in different areas:
| Category | Mariners | Angels | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batting (wRC+) | 101 (8th in AL) | 99 (10th in AL) | Mariners |
| Fielding (FRV) | -22 (14th) | -24 (15th) | Mariners |
| Starting Pitching (FIP-) | 88 (2nd) | 98 (8th) | Mariners |
| Bullpen (FIP-) | 88 (2nd) | 109 (12th) | Mariners |
What do these numbers mean?
- wRC+ (Weighted Runs Created Plus): This measures how good a team is at hitting. A score of 100 is average. The Mariners are slightly above average (101), and the Angels are just below (99).
- FRV (Fielding Runs Above Average): This measures how good a team is at defense. Negative numbers mean below average. Both teams aren’t great at fielding, but the Angels are a tiny bit worse.
- FIP- (Fielding Independent Pitching Minus): This measures how good a team’s pitchers are, focusing on things they can control (strikeouts, walks, home runs). Lower numbers are better. The Mariners’ pitching staff is one of the best in the league!
Important Point: The Mariners have the edge in every single category. Their pitching staff is especially strong — both their starters and their bullpen are among the best in the American League.
The Angels’ Hitters: Who to Watch
Here’s a look at some of the Angels’ key players:
| Player | Position | Bats | PA | K% | BB% | ISO | wRC+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zach Neto | SS | R | 371 | 32.3% | 10.5% | 0.219 | 110 |
| Denzer Guzman | 3B | R | 73 | 20.5% | 8.2% | 0.179 | 115 |
| Nolan Schanuel | 1B | L | 278 | 14.7% | 8.3% | 0.129 | 103 |
| Jorge Soler | DH | R | 264 | 31.8% | 9.8% | 0.196 | 99 |
| Wade Meckler | LF | L | 112 | 22.3% | 11.6% | 0.131 | 120 |
| Jo Adell | RF | R | 354 | 23.2% | 2.8% | 0.152 | 91 |
| Donovan Walton | 2B | L | 89 | 19.1% | 3.4% | 0.188 | 133 |
| Logan O’Hoppe | C | R | 198 | 24.2% | 7.1% | 0.112 | 80 |
| Josh Lowe | CF | L | 146 | 28.8% | 4.1% | 0.146 | 60 |
A few things to know:
- Mike Trout, the Angels’ biggest star, is injured and won’t play in this series. He hurt his hamstring on June 18 and is on the injured list.
- Zach Neto is the Angels’ most consistent player — he’s annoying to play against and gets a lot of hits.
- After Neto, the Angels’ offense drops off a lot. Some players like Josh Lowe (60 wRC+) are really struggling.
Game 1: George Kirby vs. Ryan Johnson
Pitching Matchup
| Pitcher | IP | K% | BB% | HR/FB% | GB% | ERA | FIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Johnson (Angels) | 19.1 | 16.5% | 9.9% | 17.9% | 34.3% | 8.84 | 6.31 |
| George Kirby (Mariners) | 96 | 20.9% | 5.7% | 9.3% | 49.0% | 3.94 | 3.35 |
Who is Ryan Johnson?
Ryan Johnson is a young pitcher who the Angels have been mismanaging. Here’s his story:
- He was drafted in 2024 after being great in college.
- The Angels put him on the major league team right away, skipping the minor leagues.
- He did poorly, so they sent him to the minors.
- He did well in the minors, so they brought him back to the majors.
- He got hurt, then they used him as a reliever, then sent him back to the minors again.
Important Point: The Angels keep changing Johnson’s role without giving him a clear plan to develop. This has hurt his growth as a pitcher. He has talent, but he’s been confused and inconsistent.
Ryan Johnson’s Pitches
| Pitch | Usage vRHB | Usage vLHB | Velocity | Stuff+ | Whiff+ | BIP+ | xwOBA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sinker | 45.9% | 26.1% | 92.2 mph | 84 | 30 | 113 | 0.424 |
| Cutter | 42.2% | 30.4% | 89.8 mph | 107 | 109 | 67 | 0.309 |
| Splitter | 11.9% | 43.5% | 84.3 mph | — | — | — | — |
| Sweeper | 41.3% | 6.0% | 79.3 mph | — | — | — | — |
What does this mean?
- Johnson throws a lot of sinkers and cutters.
- His cutter is his best pitch (Stuff+ of 107 is above average).
- His sinker gets hit hard (xwOBA of 0.424 is really bad — the higher the number, the more damage batters do against it).
- He doesn’t get many swings and misses (low Whiff+ numbers).
George Kirby, on the other hand, is a much more established and effective pitcher. He strikes out more batters, walks fewer, and keeps the ball on the ground more often. He’s a big reason the Mariners are favored in Game 1.
Game 2: Bryan Woo vs. José Soriano
Pitching Matchup
| Pitcher | IP | K% | BB% | HR/FB% | GB% | ERA | FIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| José Soriano (Angels) | 95 | 25.4% | 12.0% | 15.8% | 53.0% | 3.32 | 4.21 |
| Bryan Woo (Mariners) | 93 | 24.6% | 4.8% | 7.4% | 35.8% | 4.26 | 3.06 |
Who is José Soriano?
José Soriano is a really interesting pitcher. Here’s what makes him weird and fun:
- He throws really hard (his fastball is around 97 mph).
- He has three pitches that get a lot of swings and misses.
- He gets a ton of groundballs (53% — one of the highest rates in baseball).
- But he also walks a lot of batters (12% walk rate is high).
What’s changed this year?
Last year, Soriano’s ERA was better than his FIP (meaning he was getting lucky). This year, it’s the opposite — his ERA is lower than his FIP, which means he’s been a bit lucky. He’s striking out more batters now, but he’s also walking more and getting hit harder when batters do make contact.
José Soriano’s Pitches
| Pitch | Usage vRHB | Usage vLHB | Velocity | Stuff+ | Whiff+ | BIP+ | xwOBA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four-seam | 22.2% | 25.0% | 97.3 mph | 96 | 102 | 69 | 0.414 |
| Sinker | 29.1% | 23.5% | 96.5 mph | 106 | 164 | 89 | 0.388 |
| Splitter | 9.3% | 29.6% | 92.3 mph | 102 | 124 | 102 | 0.218 |
| Curveball | 29.3% | 21.0% | 85.3 mph | 95 | 145 | 94 | 0.255 |
| Slider | 10.1% | 1.0% | 90.2 mph | — | — | — | — |
Key takeaways:
- Soriano’s splitter is his best pitch — very few hard hits against it (xwOBA of 0.218).
- His four-seam fastball gets hit hard (xwOBA of 0.414).
- He throws a lot of curveballs and sinkers.
- He almost never throws his slider to left-handed batters.
Bryan Woo is a solid pitcher for the Mariners. He doesn’t walk many batters and has a better FIP than Soriano, meaning he’s been more effective overall.
Game 3: Bryce Miller vs. Walbert Ureña
Pitching Matchup
| Pitcher | IP | K% | BB% | HR/FB% | GB% | ERA | FIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walbert Ureña (Angels) | 71.2 | 22.0% | 11.8% | 8.1% | 54.5% | 3.14 | 3.84 |
| Bryce Miller (Mariners) | 45.2 | 33.1% | 3.1% | 14.9% | 38.2% | 1.97 | 3.06 |
Who is Walbert Ureña?
Walbert Ureña is a 22-year-old pitcher who is still learning and growing. He’s a lot like José Soriano:
- He throws really hard.
- He uses a sinker to get groundballs.
- He has some pitches that get swings and misses, but he doesn’t strike out a ton of batters.
- He walks too many batters.
Ureña has made big improvements this year and has earned a regular spot in the Angels’ rotation. He’s young and has a lot of potential!
Walbert Ureña’s Pitches
| Pitch | Usage vRHB | Usage vLHB | Velocity | Stuff+ | Whiff+ | BIP+ | xwOBA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four-seam | 24.0% | 23.9% | 97.5 mph | 74 | 104 | 135 | 0.242 |
| Sinker | 50.5% | 29.1% | 97.6 mph | 111 | 143 | 107 | 0.401 |
| Changeup | 25.6% | 47.0% | 90.5 mph | 97 | 116 | 112 | 0.239 |
| Sweeper | 32.8% | 8.4% | 86.3 mph | 120 | 99 | 74 | 0.252 |
Key takeaways:
- Ureña’s sinker is his most-used pitch, but it gets hit hard (xwOBA of 0.401).
- His four-seam fastball and changeup are actually better at preventing hard contact.
- His sweeper has great Stuff+ (120) but he doesn’t use it as much against left-handed batters.
Bryce Miller is having a great year. He strikes out a ton of batters (33.1%) and almost never walks anyone (3.1%). His ERA is an excellent 1.97.
AL West Standings
| Team | W-L | W% | Games Behind | Run Diff | Recent Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rangers | 42-42 | 0.500 | — | -8 | L-W-W-W-W |
| Mariners | 42-43 | 0.494 | 0.5 | +4 | L-L-W-L-L |
| Astros | 42-44 | 0.488 | 1.0 | -42 | W-W-L-W-W |
| Athletics | 40-44 | 0.476 | 2.0 | -54 | L-W-W-L-L |
| Angels | 36-49 | 0.424 | 6.5 | -36 | W-W-L-W-W |
What does this mean?
- The Mariners are in 2nd place in the AL West, just half a game behind the Rangers.
- The Angels are in last place, 6.5 games behind the Rangers.
- The Mariners have been struggling recently (L-L-W-L-L means they lost 4 of their last 5 games).
- The Angels have been playing a bit better lately (W-W-L-W-W means they won 4 of their last 5).
AL Wild Card Standings
| Team | W-L | W% | Games Behind | Run Diff | Recent Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yankees | 48-35 | 0.578 | +7.0 | +101 | W-L-L-L-L |
| Guardians | 44-40 | 0.524 | +2.5 | -8 | L-W-L-W-W |
| Mariners | 42-43 | 0.494 | — | +4 | L-L-W-L-L |
| Astros | 42-44 | 0.488 | 0.5 | -42 | W-W-L-W-W |
| Athletics | 40-44 | 0.476 | 1.5 | -54 | L-W-W-L-L |
| Twins | 40-45 | 0.471 | 2.0 | -30 | L-L-W-L-W |
What does this mean?
- The Mariners are currently in the last Wild Card spot.
- They’re only half a game ahead of the Astros and 1.5 games ahead of the Athletics.
- This series against the Angels is a big opportunity to pad their lead and stay in the playoff race.
Summary
Here’s what you need to know about this Mariners vs. Angels series:
- The Mariners are struggling — fans are frustrated, and the team has lost 4 of their last 5 games.
- The Angels are having a terrible season — they’re in last place in the AL West, and their star player Mike Trout is injured.
- The Mariners are favored to win every game — their pitching staff is one of the best in the league, and the Angels’ offense is weak without Trout.
- This is a must-win series for the Mariners — they need to start winning again to stay in the playoff race.
- Key pitchers to watch: George Kirby, Bryan Woo, and Bryce Miller for the Mariners; Ryan Johnson, José Soriano, and Walbert Ureña for the Angels.
FAQ
Q: Why are the Mariners fans so upset?
A: The Mariners have been playing below .500 (more losses than wins) and have been inconsistent. Fans are frustrated because the team has good pitching but the offense hasn’t been producing enough runs.
Q: Who is Mike Trout and why does it matter that he’s not playing?
A: Mike Trout is one of the best baseball players in the world. He’s the Angels’ biggest star and their best hitter. Without him, the Angels’ offense is much weaker, which gives the Mariners a big advantage.
Q: What is FIP and why should I care?
A: FIP stands for Fielding Independent Pitching. It measures how good a pitcher is based on things they can control — strikeouts, walks, and home runs. It’s a better predictor of future performance than ERA because it removes the effects of defense and luck. Lower FIP is better.
Q: What does "Stuff+" mean?
A: Stuff+ is a number that measures how good a pitcher’s pitches are based on their movement, speed, and other physical characteristics. A score of 100 is average. Higher numbers mean the pitch is harder to hit.
Q: Are the Mariners going to make the playoffs?
A: It’s too early to say for sure! The Mariners are currently in a Wild Card spot, but the race is very close. They need to start winning more consistently, and this series against the Angels is a great opportunity to build some momentum.
