LA Angels (1-3) at Seattle (5-1)
When: Monday, April 1st, 2019
Where: T-Mobile Park,
Seattle, Washington
Time: 10:10 ET | TV: FS West,
ROOT Northwest
Opening Odds: Seattle -110/8.5
This was supposed to be the first of a multiple-year rebuilding plan for the Seattle Mariners, but someone didn’t tell the players on the current roster, as the team has absolutely pounded the baseball for a 5-1 start. Seattle opened the season with two wins over the Oakland A’s in Japan, then took three of four over the weekend from the World Champion Boston Red Sox, swatting 11 home runs in the process. The Mariners will now open a brief two-game series with the Los Angeles Angels on Monday, as Felix Hernandez will make his season debut for Seattle opposite Chris Stratton. The M’s 5-1 start marks only the fourth time in franchise history they have started with a record equal to or better and the offense has been led by several players including first baseman Ryon Healy, who has an extra-base hit in all six games thus far. The franchise record is seven set by Ken Griffey, Jr. to start the 1997 season. While the Mariners are scoring runs in bunches, the Angels wish they could score half that many after dropping three of their first four of the season in Oakland. L.A. has scored just nine runs in four games with six of them coming in their lone win on Friday and have just one home run (Kole Calhoun). Mike Trout and Calhoun are the only players hitting above .300 right now, with regulars Andrelton Simmons, Albert Pujols, Justin Bour, and Zack Cozart a combined 7-for-54 (.130).
Pitchers: Angels – Chris Stratton (10-10, 5.09 ERA) | Mariners – Felix Hernandez (8-14, 5.55)
Stratton enters his fourth big league season after pitching for the San Francisco Giants the past three years, compiling a 14-15 record including 10-10 in 28 games last season (26 starts). Stratton allowed 19 homers in 2018 and had just 112 strikeouts in 145 innings. He pitched poorly in the Cactus League this Spring with the Giants (eight runs in 15.2 innings) and was acquired by the Angels two days before the season began. He will be facing the Mariners for the first time.
It’s hard to believe that the Mariners are playing their seventh game of the season and this will be Hernandez’s first start, showing how far he has fallen. Felix had made the Opening Day start for Seattle in the previous 11 seasons, but had one of his worst seasons in 2018 and it ended with an 0-8 skid and 6.34 ERA in 11 games (10 starts) after June 30th. Hernandez has seen the Angels plenty in his career (53 starts) and owns a 16-18 record and 3.58 ERA with five complete games against them.
I’m sure this game will go over the total, but I’m taking the Angels as my official play in this one. If it weren’t for all of his accomplishments, Hernandez wouldn’t even be in the starting rotation anymore. He was awful last year and wasn’t any better in Spring Training either. This is a perfect opportunity for the Angels to break out of their hitting slump.
Pick: Angels -109
BETTING TRENDS:
Angels are 5-1 in their last 6 Monday games.
Angels are 10-21 in their last 31 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Angels are 20-43 in their last 63 vs. a team with a winning record.
Angels are 16-36 in their last 52 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Angels are 3-12 in their last 15 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Angels are 1-5 in their last 6 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Angels are 1-6 in their last 7 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Angels are 1-8 in their last 9 road games.
Mariners are 5-0 in their last 5 vs. American League West.
Mariners are 5-0 in their last 5 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Mariners are 8-1 in their last 9 overall.
Mariners are 6-1 in their last 7 games on grass.
Mariners are 6-1 in their last 7 home games.
Mariners are 5-1 in their last 6 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Mariners are 9-2 in their last 11 Monday games.
Mariners are 4-1 in their last 5 games following a win.
Mariners are 4-1 in their last 5 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Mariners are 4-1 in their last 5 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Mariners are 11-4 in their last 15 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Mariners are 4-9 in their last 13 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Mariners are 4-10 in their last 14 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Mariners are 21-7 in Hernandez’s last 28 Monday starts.
Mariners are 1-4 in Hernandez’s last 5 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Mariners are 1-5 in Hernandez’s last 6 home starts.
Mariners are 1-7 in Hernandez’s last 8 starts vs. American League West.
Mariners are 0-4 in Hernandez’s last 4 starts vs. a team with a losing record.
Mariners are 0-4 in Hernandez’s last 4 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Mariners are 0-4 in Hernandez’s last 4 starts.
Mariners are 0-4 in Hernandez’s last 4 starts on grass.
Mariners are 0-6 in Hernandez’s last 6 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 3-0-1 in Angels last 4 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-0-1 in Angels last 6 overall.
Under is 4-0-1 in Angels last 5 road games.
Under is 3-0-1 in Angels last 4 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 5-0-1 in Angels last 6 on grass.
Under is 3-0-1 in Angels last 4 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 4-0 in Angels last 4 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 4-0 in Angels last 4 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 6-1-2 in Angels last 9 vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 5-1-2 in Angels last 8 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 5-1 in Angels last 6 during game 1 of a series.
Under is 8-3 in Angels last 11 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Under is 22-10-2 in Angels last 34 Monday games.
Over is 4-0 in Mariners last 4 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Over is 4-0 in Mariners last 4 overall.
Over is 4-0 in Mariners last 4 on grass.
Over is 4-0 in Mariners last 4 home games.
Over is 4-0 in Mariners last 4 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Mariners last 5 during game 1 of a series.
Over is 8-3 in Mariners last 11 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 7-3-1 in Mariners last 11 Monday games.
Over is 4-1 in Hernandez’s last 5 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Hernandez’s last 5 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 6-2 in Hernandez’s last 8 starts on grass.
Over is 6-2 in Hernandez’s last 8 starts overall.
Under is 8-3-1 in Hernandez’s last 12 starts during game 1 of a series.
Under is 5-2-1 in Hernandez’s last 8 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Hernandez’s last 5 starts vs. Angels.
Over is 3-1-1 in Hernandez’s last 5 home starts vs. Angels.
Over is 5-2-1 in the last 8 meetings in Seattle.
Mariners are 2-7 in Hernandez’s last 9 starts vs. Angels.
Angels are 1-4 in the last 5 meetings.
Angels are 1-5 in the last 6 meetings in Seattle.
