Los Angeles @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 31, 2012 ) LA Angels 9, Seattle 1

The Los Angeles Angels have not won seven straight games at Seattle's Safeco Field since the 2004-05 seasons, and they'll have to be on top of their game to match that achievement. Standing in Los Angeles' way Saturday is Mariners ace Felix Hernandez, who is making a sensational push for a second American League Cy Young Award. Hernandez has won nine consecutive decisions and has tossed five shutouts in his last 12 starts to take over the AL lead with a 2.43 ERA.

The Angels had their offense cranking in the series opener to snap Seattle's eight-game home winning streak. The Angels have won four straight and remain 3 1/2 games behind the Baltimore Orioles for the second wild card slot. Albert Pujols, who has nine RBIs during a nine-game hitting streak, has only faced Hernandez six times but has a home run and a double against him. Kendrys Morales is batting .333 (13-for-39) with a homer and eight RBIs against Hernandez.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Ervin Santana (7-11, 5.45 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (13-5, 2.43)

Hernandez won his third consecutive start and kept up his amazing stretch in his last outing, notching his third 1-0 complete-game win in the month of August alone by blanking Minnesota on five hits. The only blip on his radar last month came against the Angels, when he gave up five runs - four earned - in seven innings. Hernandez is 6-10 with a 3.25 ERA in 27 starts against the Angels.

In the past month, Santana has started to turn around what had been a disastrous season. He lost at Detroit his last time out, allowing four runs in seven innings. It was his lone defeat in his last six starts. Santana continues to get hurt by the long ball, giving up two more to the Tigers to make it 11 homers in his last seven starts and 31 on the year. He's 11-7 in 28 starts vs. Seattle.

WALK-OFFS

1. Angels sensation Mike Trout eclipsed the franchise rookie record for runs in a season. He had scored a major league-best 106 runs in 109 games.

2. Mariners RF Michael Saunders exited Friday's game after appearing to aggravate a groin injury. He has sat out the previous six games.

3. Morales has hit six of his 18 home runs this season against the Mariners.